For the Faith

A conversation in Dr. Langton's riverside home turns the reading of religious texts into a question of church authority. Set in sixteenth-century Oxford, Evelyn Everett-Green's historical novel introduces John Clarke, who defends people's freedom to read in their own language, and Anthony Dalaber, an eager student drawn to these arguments. Langton's twin daughters, Freda and Magda, listen beside the window as the discussion unfolds in a household overlooking the Cherwell.

A later scene finds Dalaber borrowing a religious book from Robert Ferrar and studying it behind a locked door. Repeated knocking interrupts his reading, leaving him uncertain whether danger or a friend in need awaits him. Written for younger readers, the story places Christian belief alongside friendship, learning and the demands of conscience. Readers interested in religious history can see how arguments about books enter university rooms and shape everyday decisions.