Divide and rule

by Jan Mark

Hanno, an unbeliever, unwillingly pledges himself to serve the temple for a year. He is chosen to become the Shepherd, a ritual intercessor between the god and his people.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

246 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Janet Marjorie Mark (1943-2006) was a British children's author and two time winner of the Carnegie Medal. She also taught art and English in Gravesend, Kent, was part of the faculty of Education at Oxford Polytechnic in the early 1980s and was a tutor and mentor to other writers before her death from meningitis-related septicaemia.

Meet the author:

What is your favourite animal?
The noble rat

What is your favourite boy’s name?
George

What is your favourite girl’s name?
Marjorie

What is your favourite food?
Pickled herring

What is your favourite music?
Klezmer

What is your favourite hobby?
Listening to music

Reviews

[Pam Baddeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual YA novel set in a city where a rather meaningless religion staggers on with a dwindling congregation. Hanno is a young man of 18 who is likeable and happy go lucky though a disappointment to his father and older brother. Hanno prefers to run a hand to mouth business using his river boat rather than join the family pottery. He is also concealing his worsening eyesight. The temple chooses a ritual shepherd every year and Hanno is horrified to be chosen especially as it becomes clear that he will be a virtual prisoner in the temple in what eventually proves to be a climate of physical and psychological bullying. As well as the dysfunctional guardians, handmaidens and priest, the temple houses a harmless madman who makes pronouncements about his own death.

As the year progresses, Hanno becomes increasingly alienated and disoriented especially when a disastrous visit to his father seems to show that his father can't wait to get rid of him again. His brother never visits. Hanno's loss of identity, the abusive treatment he receives, and deterioration of his health takes a worse turn when the lunatic dies and is abruptly cast as a infallible prophet, with Hanno allocated a key role in his burgeoning cult, a cult which brings large new congregations and prosperity to the temple. Ultimately the story deals with the sinister side of organised religion and has a rather sad ending.

[Pat Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Just the right measures of cynicism and fantasy. A simple coming of age story told with poise and poignancy. I would advise reading "Eclipse of the Century" as well.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was a young teen, decades ago and it stayed with me. It was my first introduction to the idea that power isn't always benevolent. Shocking and brilliant.