The Printer's Devil

I asked for this book for my birthday because it looked interesting and I loved "The Nine Taylors" by Dorothy L. Sayers. I had no idea. This is a masterful tale which combines the third-person viewpoints of two modern people with the journal entries of Francis Steadman, a real person from 17th century England whose name is famous among change-ringers everywhere. The story combines mystery, history and magic in a way that is reminiscent of both Sayers and Peter S. Beagle. It is not only a brilliant fantasy which draws the two times together in a complex and riveting plot; the author's grasp of 17th century linguistic vagaries gives Steadman's journal entries a sense of realism which could not be better achieved. I highly recommend "The Printer's Devil" for anyone whose interests include fantasy, change-ringing, and/or 17th century England.