Europe, late 12th century. Christianity is under severe attacks: ecclesiastical and theological quarrels provoked the 'Great Schism' between the Churches of Rome and Constantinople; temporal and spiritual powers are on a collision course; Turks are fiercely approaching Jerusalem and the Pope appeals for a Crusade. Boson, the protagonist of this novel, was a real monk who headed up the Cluniac abbey of Notre-Dame du Bec between 1124 and 1136, at a time when the monastery was one of the important centers of intellectual life in Normandy, being the school place of many distinguished members of the clergy, probably including the future Pope Alexander II and Saint Ivo of Chartres. The author appropriated this Abbot and many other historical figures and places to build a narrative that begins shortly before 1095. Throughout the tale, which emphasizes historical rigor about characters and information, Boson abandons a sacrilegious relationship and starts to confront certain values of human life, namely religion, carnal love and truth. Why is carnal love proscribed to clergy? How many people live in God? Was Mary a virgin before and even after Jesus' birth? Who really was Judas? Did Christ die on the cross? In possession of forbidden knowledge, Boson will return to Normandy facing the impact of his religious discoveries. Will he succeed?