Books like Holy Fools by Joanne Harris
Set in 17th‑century France amid witch trials, the murder of Henri IV, and religious turmoil, the novel follows Juliette, a former actress and rope‑dancer, who hides with her daughter Fleur in the abbey of Sainte‑Marie‑de‑la‑Mer. There she assumes the identity of Sister Auguste under the guidance of a kind Abbess. As France shifts toward chaos, the abbey’s new appointment—a young Isabelle, daughter of a corrupt noble—brings a dangerous cleric from Juliette’s past into the convent’s walls. The story weaves themes of identity, faith, and survival against a historically charged backdrop.
First publish date: 2003
Genre: Historical Fiction/19th Century Historical Fiction
Authors: Joanne Harris
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