The Hidden Treasure of Glaston
by Eleanore M. Jewett
Bethlehem Books
1-800-757-6831
www.bethlehembooks.com

A gripping tale from its opening lines, The Hidden Treasure of Glaston is sure to be a hit in your home. Superbly written, this work of historical fiction takes place during the turbulent days of King Henry II. The story opens with a young boy of eleven mysteriously left by his father, a man of high birth, at the abbey of Glasonbury on a cold and stormy night, “a night of sweeping storm, a spring night when the rivers were brown and full . . . . Cold it was, too, bitter cold for March, and the wind-driven rain slashed against doors and walls and beat the muddy roads into a running ooze. God pity all poor souls abroad on such a night!”

With this dramatic entrance, Jewett introduces the main character, young Hugh, a boy struggling with his identity as an outcast, and a cripple scorned by his father, as well as the setting of the story, an abbey on the coast of England during the late twelfth century. Unlike other recent works about mysteries and mayhem in monasteries, where the only thing Catholic is the setting, this book breathes the Catholic Faith.

Not only is monastic life presented realistically, with all its prayers, character faults, and strivings for perfection, the abbey is also presented as a place of peace and harmony for a young boy, searching for the meaning of his life. “All men, whether princes or beggars . . . knew that they would be received graciously and without question at any monastery.” As his friend, Dickon relates, “We hate nobody here in Glaston; we couldn’t!” “Why?” The reader might ask. Because all who enter are treated as “the children of God and brothers of our Savior.” This prevailing attitude melts the boy’s bitterness and hatred against the people and events of his mysterious past.

At the same time, by no means is life in the abbey presented as drab, boring, or uninspiring. The boys are always kept busy, and happily value and appreciate the daily work and dedication of the monks. Unlike today’s modern society, these young men enjoy their work and admire their elders. Hugh, in particular, highly values reading, writing, and books. In addition to their daily work, they find time for their adventuring, adventuring for a special treasure, more valuable and prized than any worldly treasure, because, surprisingly, of its Catholic nature. Compared to modern society, which values money, power, and sex, the reader is quite taken aback by their esteem of “holy” treasure. In fact, the characters’ excitement in searching for this Catholic treasure, not worldly gold, is quite infectious. In the end, however, Hugh not only discovers the hidden treasure of the monastery, but also the hidden treasure of his soul.

As the story unfolds, Hugh comes to realize that he actually enjoys writing beautiful script, the soft touch of the vellum paper, and the brilliant dyes used for illumination. As he becomes immersed in the rhythm of the daily life of the abbey, the ideal of everyday sanctity gradually becomes a reality. Unbeknownst to him, he develops many virtues. While learning the art of illumination, he learns patience. As he continually looks for new clues to the hidden treasure, he learns perseverance. As his friendship grows with the strange hermit of Beckery, he learns kindness. On more than one occasion, he risks his own life to save another because of his mercy, goodness, and thoughtfulness of others. In the end, his greatest triumph is recognizing that he has learned to love and forgive others.

Throughout the story, Hugh wonders, “What is God’s plan for his life?” Why is he at the abbey? He must wrestle with his father’s dream for Hugh to become a great and valiant knight. In the beginning, he is only too aware of his deformity and feelings of inadequacy, but through his desire to help others, he soon forgets his handicap. When he is finally confronted with the reality of becoming a brave and daring knight like his father, he recognizes that his true desire is not to be a knight.

Compared to today’s world where young people are too often immersed in their own selves and the teenage culture of the latest movies and rock music, life in an abbey might appear to be pretty boring. On the contrary, today’s forms of entertainment are not only passive, but also mindless, self-indulgent and hedonistic. With all that noise, a person’s soul doesn’t have a chance to develop. Life in the abbey, on the other hand, allows the boys to experience life. They are participators and not mere spectators. They develop their whole selves.

From a parent’s point of view, this book is refreshing because the characters acknowledge there is an inherent sense of good and evil, and “man” is portrayed as a spiritual being. Therefore, faith is an integral part of life, not any faith, but the Catholic faith, and not just because the setting is in a Catholic monastery.

With all these Catholic themes of virtue, goodness, and treasure (both real and the treasure of one’s soul) threaded throughout the story, one would expect pious preaching. On the contrary, there is none. The lofty ideals and the deep meaning only increase the excitement and mystery of the well-told tale. As the hermit of Beckery relates, “My mind teemed with memories of old tales, of romance and brave deeds in the days of King Arthur and his knights.” Truly, the brave deeds of young Hugh are not to be outdone by the knights of King Arthur. Your children will beg you to keep reading as you search together for The Hidden Treasure of Glaston.

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