Gabriel and the Hour Book

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27916

Title

Gabriel and the Hour Book

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in 15th-century Normandy, this tale follows Gabriel Viaud, a peasant boy who assists a reclusive monk, Brother Stephen, in creating a royal illuminated book. When Stephen is forced to work in isolation, Gabriel secretly adds his own heartfelt prayer to the volume. His simple plea for his imprisoned father and family's survival is miraculously answered by the King, restoring their fortune and launching Gabriel's journey to become a master illuminator alongside his newfound freedom.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in early April four hundred years ago, *Gabriel and the Hour Book* by Evaleen Stein tells the story of young Gabriel Viaud, a peasant boy from Normandy who serves as a color-grinder for Brother Stephen at the Abbey of St. Martin-de-Bouchage. Brother Stephen, a talented but unhappy monk, is forced to create a magnificent illuminated 'Hour Book' for King Louis XII as punishment for refusing to paint without freedom. Chained to his worktable in a cold chapter-house, Stephen is consumed by bitterness over his confinement and denied ability to paint freely in the world. Unaware of Stephen's deep distress, Gabriel admires the book's beauty. Inspired by Stephen's final prayer for forgiveness, Gabriel writes his own plea on a scrap of parchment. He asks God to free his father from prison and restore their farm, which has been seized due to unpaid taxes. Secretly slipping his page into the book before it is sent to Lady Anne of Bretagne, Gabriel hopes his humble request will be heard. The book travels to Paris, where Count Henri delivers it to the royal court. Following the wedding of King Louis and Queen Anne, the King decides to build a royal writing room. Learning that Stephen wishes to leave the monastery, the King grants him freedom and invites Gabriel to Paris for training. Both men depart the Abbey; Stephen travels Europe to study great masters, while Gabriel returns home occasionally. Eventually, Stephen returns to Paris, where he and Gabriel become the palace's finest illuminators. The story concludes with their enduring friendship and the legacy of their beautiful works preserved in libraries worldwide. The narrative highlights themes of artistic freedom, divine providence, and the transformative power of kindness, illustrating how a simple act of faith can alter the course of history and lift a family from poverty.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27916.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg27916.epub

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2026-07-05 08:30 UTC

Categories

• History
• Fiction