The Oracle of the Moon

Presentation

1533, Calabria. Giovanni Tratore's life is turned upside down by his encounter with Elena, a Venetian noblewoman whose ship has run aground near his village. Once the Venetians have left, Giovanni is haunted by the desire to find the young woman again. Driven by this overwhelming passion, the peasant leaves his native region and travels up Italy to Venice. His quest for love becomes a journey of initiation, punctuated by encounters with strange and erudite characters, but also a theological thriller when Giovanni is entrusted by an astrologer with a letter bearing an explosive message intended for the Pope…

A historical epic whose plot unfolds in the heart of a 16th century haunted by religious and philosophical quarrels, a novel of love and adventure, a meditation on the theme of destiny and free will, L'Oracle della Luna is a captivating tale that takes us from the palaces to the prisons of Venice, from the monasteries of Mount Athos to the corsair prison of Algiers, from Jerusalem to the ghetto of Cyprus.

• Albin Michel, October 4, 2006 – 624 pages – EAN: 978-2226173515
• LGF Pocket Book, May 2008 – 736 pages – EAN: 978-2253123040

Translations

Germany : C. BERTELSMANN VERLAG
Latin America : EDICIONES GRIJALBO
English: EBOOK – The Oracle of the Moon (English Edition)
Arabic: DAR AL KHAYAL
Brazil: Suma / Objetiva
Korea: CHANGHAE PUBLISHING
Spain (Castilian): EDICIONES GRIJALBO
Greece: DIAMANDIS AND CO.
Netherlands: LUITINGH-SIJTHOFF Uitgeverij
Poland: ALATROS WYDAWNICTWO
Portugal: SUMA DE LETRAS
Romania: RAO INTERNATIONAL
Russia: EKSMO EDITIONS

What the press says about it

A historical and religious thriller in the prestigious tradition of Umberto Eco. The plot is very well crafted, and the love story keeps the reader in suspense until the very last of the 617 pages.
Paris Match

A tempestuous wind sweeps through this humanist and mystical novel. One is stunned by the wisdom, intelligence, knowledge, and strength that permeate it.
—Le Figaro Littéraire

"A beautiful adventure, full of sound and fury, emotion and tenderness, a novel imbued with grace. It leaves you deeply moved."
—La Vie

Lenoir's 600 pages are read with disconcerting speed.
More than a sprawling historical thriller, it's a philosophical tale written by a scholar who, unlike Dan Brown, relies on solid knowledge.
—Journal du Dimanche

"A magnificent plot"
Europe 1

"Look no further, I've got your book for the weekend: 'The Oracle of the Moon.' Love, adventure, and conspiracy during the Renaissance—it's thrilling… A history of religions for dummies remixed by Alexandre Dumas."
RTL

"A gripping thriller that finds its balance and originality" -
Le Pèlerin

"Romantic twists and turns, picaresque, genuine suspense... a generous, ambitious, and entertaining book."
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"A rare talent"
- Psychologies

"A coming-of-age novel, picaresque and sentimental... written by someone intelligent and humanist, passionate about the question of destiny and free will."
Elle