The Da Vinci Code meets Stephen Greenblatt’s The Swerve in this erudite adventure story set at the dawn of the printed book about the outlaw poet François Villon and the power of words to change the world.

François Villon, the world’s first poet of modernity, was born in Paris in 1431. He was arrested and condemned to death by hanging in 1462 and exonerated in 1463. Shortly after his release from prison, as far as history is concerned, he disappeared forever.

In Raphaël Jerusalmy’s thrilling novel, to ensure his release, Villon has accepted a shady deal offered by the Bishop of Paris at the behest of Louis XI. All Villon has to do to earn his freedom is to convince a printer and bookseller to move from Mayence to Paris, telling him that by doing so he’ll be better able to circulate progressive ideas that aren’t approved of in Rome. Not surprisingly, Villon’s task becomes more complicated that it first seemed. With this riveting tale of plots and counterplots involving secret organizations in Jerusalem, intrigue in France, and brigands in Italy, Raphaël Jerusalmy leaves readers wit their hearts racing and their imaginations stirred. The Brotherhood of Book Hunters is an irresistible read for lovers of books, adventure, and fine writing.

Raphaël Jerusalmy
Raphaël Jerusalmy was born in Montmartre, France in 1954. After receiving diplomas from the Ecole Normale Supérieure and the Sorbonne, he worked with Israeli Military Intelligence. He currently sells antique books in Tel-Aviv.

• Oct 26 2015
  The Brotherhood of Book Hunters by Raphaël Jerusalmy, tr. Howard Curtis
  — Book Sexy Review
• May 5 2015
  "Lapped up the intrigue, the journey into the past and Jerusalmy’s imagination, and I absolutely revelled in the sheer love of books and learning that infuses these pages."
  — Lizzy's Literary Life
• Sep 13 2014
  Kirkus (starred review): "Literate. Brilliant. Entertaining."