This book contains four short stories set in the context of medieval universities.
Set in 13th-century Paris, The Shadows of Scholastica is a historical fiction novel that intertwines academic life, political intrigue, and religious tension within the University of Paris. The story follows Thomas de Castellane, a young nobleman and scholar, as he uncovers a conspiracy involving a secret society known as The Company of the Thorn, which seeks to control knowledge and power within the university and the Church.
The Scholar's Dilemma is a historical fiction narrative set in the 13th century, following Jacques de Montigny, a scholar whose intellectual journey spans the great learning centers of medieval Europe and the Islamic world. Beginning in the University of Paris, Jacques becomes embroiled in the conflict between faith and reason as he defends the emerging philosophical ideas of Aristotle and Averroes against the strict orthodoxy of the Church. Forced to flee from the Inquisition, his travels take him to Sicily, Constantinople, Konya, and finally Damascus, where he encounters a diverse array of scholars, mystics, and philosophers.
Set in 13th-century Bologna, The Scholar's Guild follows Giovanni di Rossi, a young and idealistic law student at the newly established Law School of the University of Bologna. As Giovanni delves into his studies, he quickly realizes that the university is not just a sanctuary of learning but a battleground for political and intellectual control. The city is divided between the Guelphs, who support the Pope, and the Ghibellines, who back the Holy Roman Emperor, and the university is caught in the middle of this struggle.
The Philosopher's Disputation shows how, in the mid-13th century, the University of Paris becomes the battleground for a fierce intellectual and theological conflict following the arrival of newly translated works of Aristotle. Led by Thomas Aquinas and guided by his mentor Albertus Magnus, a group of scholars seeks to integrate Aristotle's philosophy with Christian theology, believing that reason and faith can coexist. However, the conservative faction within the Church, spearheaded by Peter de Marcilly and supported by the Inquisition, views these ideas as dangerous and heretical, threatening the very foundations of Christian doctrine.
