The Betrayal: A Novel on John Calvin (Douglas Bond)

The Betrayal

A Novel on John Calvin

Douglas Bond tells the story of reformer John Calvin and Jean-Louis Mourin, a man whose deadly envy will stop at nothing to silence Calvin …

“Privileged Calvin had every reason to pray and revel in God’s kindnesses, but I, that night, looked heavenward with a scowl. ‘God above, if you are there, you are most unkind to me. Therefore, will I not serve you, will I not worship you, will I not obey you. Henceforth, I give of myself to those powers that most work against you, against your will and ways, and against your servants.’  It was a prayer that invigorated me, made me feel emancipated from divine oppression and injustice, the master of myself and my fortunes, the bold possessor of new freedoms.”

So begins the private war of one man determined to sell all, even at the cost of his own soul. Told from the perspective of a sworn lifelong enemy of John Calvin, this fast-paced biographical novel is a tale of envy that escalates to violent intrigue and shameless betrayal.

Endorsements

“Anything Doug Bond writes is, almost now by definition, a fascinating read. But to have his skills attached to the life of John Calvin is a double treat.”

—Joel Belz, founder, World Magazine

“If you enjoy reading the fictional works of C. S. Lewis, you will love this book.”

—Burk Parsons, editor, Tabletalk magazine and Pastor of St. Andrew’s Chapel, Lake Mary, Florida

“An exciting read, almost effortlessly and implicitly undoing caricatures about Calvin along the way.  Calvin and his times are brought to life in a page-turner!”

—Joel R. Beeke, president, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

About the Author

Douglas Bond is the author of a number of books of historical fiction and biography, including The Thunder (about the life of John Knox) and The Revolt (about the time of Wycliffe).  He and his wife have two daughters and four sons. Bond is an elder in the Presbyterian Church of America, a teacher, a conference speaker, and a leader of church history tours.