Author David Townsend Will Discuss His New Historical Novel 'The Ram in the Thicket: A Novel of Medieval Norwich'

Author and scholar David Townsend will present his new historical novel, “The Ram in the Thicket: A Novel of Medieval Norwich,” at two events on the East End in the coming weeks. The first event will be held at St. Luke’s Church Hoie Hall in East Hampton on Wednesday, August 13, from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. The second event will take place on Sunday, September 7, at 5 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Sag Harbor.

Townsend’s Hoie Hall talk at St. Luke’s Church, titled “Faith and Fear, Repression and Resilience in Medieval Norwich,” will explore the real and fictional tensions in 15th-century England that inspired his book. Set in Norwich, England, in 1413, the novel weaves a timely tale of power struggles, religious extremism, inherited trauma, and moral courage — one in which marginalized voices must navigate a society increasingly hostile to dissent.

Two powerful factions vie for control of a thriving city, while bishops attempt to root out religious nonconformity. At the heart of the story are those most vulnerable: the descendants of Jews forced to convert or flee during earlier waves of persecution. Julian of Norwich, the aging mystic, and Margery Kempe, a flamboyant spiritual seeker, find themselves at odds in the swirling chaos — one seeking peace, the other sparking controversy.

Townsend, a scholar and translator, is Professor Emeritus of Medieval Studies and English at the University of Toronto and with “The Ram in the Thicket,” he blends scholarship and storytelling in a novel that reimagines historic figures while raising questions that still resonate today.

The August 13 talk is free, open to the public and part of a summer literary series hosted at St. Luke’s Church, 18 James Lane, East Hampton. The September 7 book event at Christ Episcopal Church, 5 Hampton Street, Sag Harbor, is cosponsored by Gesher – The Bridge Shul and Canio’s Cultural Café. Details for that event can be found at bridgeshul.org/events.