Review: "cloak and dagger' adventure in both timelines"
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 18, 2012
The Pelican Code is a very interesting book which compiles two different time periods with one storyline. The author is able to keep your attention with the modern day characters and interspersing historical fact and legend within the pages. Not only is the plot of the book a very debatable subject, but it is filled with `cloak and dagger' adventure in both timelines. There is much political upheaval during the 15th century and innocent writers were put to death if accused of the treason of `heresy' or writings of blasphemy in order to placate the fears of Queen Elizabeth I.In modern day Padova, Northern Italy, there is a huge project for the removal of earthquake damaged buildings which had stood for hundreds of years. As one of the dump trucks drops a load of rubble into the landfill, a small box tumbles from amid the dust and broken bricks. One man sees the wooden box with the ornate gilded corners and swoops in to rescue the box. The workman opens the box and examines the contents- a small painting, a letter, and three leather bound books- the man has no idea of the true worth of the items he holds in his dusty hands.Modern day character, Toby Malone lives in the city of Canterbury, Kent, a historical Elizabethan town located in Southeast England. He had an unfortunate event which happened during his days in Cambridge and was expelled for an act he did not commit. He is now in his early thirties and happily married. He is known as `Kit' by his wife Cassie and friends.  He works as assistant in a book shop which allows him time to pursue his study and historical documentation of a prominent theory he seems to be obsessed to follow. Kit is is determined to search for answers to his questions of the possibility of Christopher Marlowe being the true author of plays which have been attributed as the works of William Shakespeare!Another prominent character is Frank Walsh. A lecturer of English Literature who has ties to a secret society and the financial motive to protect the historical reputation of William Shakespeare as the unquestionable author of the famous Shakespearean works of 1535-1613.In the meantime, the books which are found are believed to be coded diaries of Christopher Marlowe, 1564 -1593?? Marlowe was a friend and mentor of William Shakespeare. According to this book, the death of Marlowe was publicized as happening in a bar fight, although actually with Marlowe spending his later years as an exile in Italy. Kit tries to acquire and protect the diaries and painting hoping to use them as proof that Christopher Marlowe wrote many of the plays and were published in an agreement with Shakespeare.Who is the man on the fringes of the story wearing the distinctive ring, a pelican with three babies, plucking her bleeding chest to feed her young? Is his purpose to protect the documents or to destroy them?After I read The Pelican Code and thought about the story, I kept saying to myself..."Was Shakespeare a fraud? Well, it could be true!"So, read the book and then let your mind consider the possibilities...was Shakespeare an honored playwright and author, or was he a fraud, or perhaps the genius author of a successful literary business deal!Enjoy!