Labyrinth (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Kate Mosse |
| Products | Historical mystery novel |
Labyrinth is a historical mystery novel authored by Kate Mosse, set against the backdrop of both the Middle Ages and modern-day France, first published in 2005.
The story revolves around two main characters, Alaïs (1209) and Alice (2005), whose lives are intertwined within the same geographical region. The plot weaves in significant historical episodes such as the massacre at Béziers and the Albigensian Crusade targeting the Cathars in Occitania, present-day southern France. The narrative incorporates elements of Occitan and French languages and focuses on a pursuit of the Holy Grail.
In 2006, Labyrinth received the Best Read of the Year award at the British Book Awards. It became the second highest-selling book in the UK that year, following The Da Vinci Code, with around 865,400 paperback copies sold. The Guardian named it the leading bestseller of 2006. Additionally, a passage from the book was included in the Scottish Qualifications Authority's 2009 Standard Grade English examination.
Plot
Dr Alice Tanner volunteers at an archaeological excavation site on Pic de Soularac in France, where she uncovers two skeletons hidden in a secret cave connected to a violent history. Troubled by inscriptions and a labyrinth motif that matches one on a ring she possesses, Alice realizes she has stumbled upon a secret meant to remain concealed. This discovery resonates with her recurring dreams and personal background.
Eight centuries earlier, Alaïs, a young herbalist and daughter of Carcassona’s steward on the brink of civil unrest in Languedoc, is entrusted with three books containing the mysteries of the Holy Grail. Although she cannot interpret their symbols, Alaïs is resolute in safeguarding their secret. Alice eventually discovers she is a descendant of Alaïs.
Television adaptation
A television version of the novel, scripted by Adrian Hodges and directed by Christopher Smith, premiered in 2012.