(NOTE: I am receiving a free copy of this book in exchange for writing this review)
The year is 1592. The country - Spain. Carlos and Juan Rodriguez are not only brothers, they are also best friends. Their young mother died when Carlos was born, and their father is believed to be dead also. But growing up, the two brothers dreamed of the day when they would find their long lost father, and they imagined him a rich adventurer somewhere in the New World. As the firstborn, headstrong, confident Juan leads his kind, softhearted brother Carlos in pretend games of sword fighting and many other adventures. Their kind nurse Delores is almost like a mother to the boys, and she brings them up in the large, old castle that has been in the Rodriguez family for years.
As the boys get older, their personalities don't change at all, and Juan becomes a brave soldier, fighting for king and country, while Carlos goes to the university to study to become a Catholic priest. Juan makes Carlos promise to watch over his childhood sweetheart, Dona Beatriz, to make sure she stays free to marry Juan when he comes back from his war escapades. However, although Carlos starts out by spending a lot of time with Dona Beatriz telling her how wonderful his brave, strong brother is, pretty soon he ends up falling unwittingly in love with her! The thought crosses his mind that he could easily marry her since his brother is away. But when he suddenly realizes that he was about break his promise to his brother, a great struggle ensues. He is horrified that he could have even thought of hurting his beloved brother, but he can't imagine life without Dona Beatriz! So, he decides to escape the city and his uncle's house where he had been staying, and return to the old castle where he grew up to think things through.
While at the castle, a peddler with his mules stops by and Carlos invites him to spend the night. They end up getting into a discussion about religion, and the peddler, named Juliano, admits to Carlos that what he really has in his mule sacks is Spanish New Testaments, which are outlawed in Spain at the time. Juliano shares with Carlos that the true way to get to Heaven is by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, not by performing rituals, doing good works, or attending church. Carlos is confused as he starts to realize the truths in the Bible, and even after Juan leaves he becomes more and more convicted of the only true way to Heaven. Carlos becomes a Christian, but keeps it hidden. If anyone ever found out . . . he shuddered to think of the tortures he may be forced to endure by the infamous Spanish Inquisition.
This book is much, much more complicated than I am able to write here, so to make a long story short (this book is 416 pages long), Carlos - through an effort to save his crippled cousin from doing a horrible deed - is eventually captured. Will his beloved brother fight to the death to save him from the murderous Inquisition? Juan has supposedly accepted his brother's faith as his own, but will it be enough to sustain him through this time of tragedy? Who does Dona Beatriz end up marrying? And who is that mysterious stranger who shares a cell with Carlos in the dark dungeons of the Inquisition? To find out all this and more, you'll have to read . . .
THE SPANISH BROTHERS!!!
I HIGHLY recommend this book and all the other books printed by Lamplighter Publishing! The Spanish Brothers is not only well written, it is inspiring, challenging, convicting, and very interesting! We have over 70 of their books, which all have hardcover, old-fashioned, very well designed covers. Most of the books were written over a hundred years ago, and each story teaches important character lessons. There are short books, long books, simply stories, and complicated stories - something for every age group! We've read several of these books aloud as a family and really enjoyed them! My personal favorites include: The Spanish Brothers, The Wrestler of Phillipi, The Robber's Cave, Titus: A Comrade of the Cross, Stepping Heavenward, and there are SO many more good ones! Visit the Lamplighter Publishing website to find out more! These books are worth the money - I'm so glad that Lamplighter Publishing is willing to re-print these godly, character-building stories that the whole family can enjoy!
On a side note, we also just LOVE the new Lamplighter Theatre stories (read the blog here). They've taken some of the favorite books and made them into highly exceptional, professional audio dramas! I can't recommend these highly enough!! Visit this page to listen to some samples. We have already bought the first season, plus The Robber's Cave, and they are WONDERFUL!
Here is Mark Hamby's (founder of Lamplighter Publishing) preface to The Spanish Brothers:
“Persecution bursts suddenly upon the secret converts in Seville. Carlos was imprisoned and put to the Question, but no tortures could induce him to deny his Lord, or betray his friends.”1 The Inquisition. The Question. The horrors of the Auto-da-fé. Through the courageous fortitude of great heroes and heroines of faith, lifts the soul clear above the anguish to the glory that we know and believe in, strengthening our faith and inspiring us to press on. This dramatic account of the Spanish Inquisition will leave you speechless. The conviction and courage demonstrated by sixteenth century believers puts our present-day calamities in perspective, sharply, yet gently reminding us of the truth of the Word and the power of our Savior’s love. All else pales in comparison. This is passionate book, a riveting work. It is historical, bringing us into the very presence of the individuals—ordinary yet extraordinary— who faltered neither in their faith nor their love for the One who is Truth. This book gives great power to those whose faith is faltering in prolonged anguish and suffering. It transcends this finite world and takes us to higher ground, upon which we can—and will—rejoice forever.
May we uphold each other in prayer as we endeavor to be forever faithful,
Mark Hamby
Romans 8:17-18
1 From “The Author of the Spanish Brothers (Deborah Alcock) Her Life and Works” by Elisabeth Boyd Bayly.
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