Rights & Translation

Rights Information

The French edition of The Testament of Azénor is published by L’Harmattan (Paris). English-language translation rights are held by the French publisher.

The publisher is open to discussions with Irish, UK, or international publishers interested in an English-language edition.

Synopsis

The Testament of Azénor is a historical novel set between Armorica and Ireland at the turn of the 6th century, a period marked by the gradual replacement of Celtic oral traditions by Christian written culture.

Azénor, the daughter of an Armorican count, receives an education uncommon for a woman of her time. Under the guidance of Tadhgán, an Irish monk and former druid, she gains access to ancient Celtic learning and becomes involved in the preservation of a manuscript inspired by the Lebor Gabála Érenn, a foundational text of Irish mythic history. Considered dangerous by representatives of the Latin Church, the manuscript becomes the object of pursuit and violence.

After Tadhgán’s death and her own condemnation following false accusations of adultery, Azénor is cast adrift at sea. She survives and reaches Ireland, where she gives birth to a son, Budoc. Raised in the monastic community of the Aran Islands, Budoc later inherits responsibility for safeguarding the manuscript.

As abbot and later bishop, Budoc attempts to protect this fragile legacy while navigating growing tensions within the Church and his own community. When the manuscript disappears, its loss exposes the conflicts between faith, power, and the transmission of knowledge.

Structured around two generations, the novel explores how texts, beliefs, and memories survive periods of transition, and questions the role of writing as both a tool of preservation and control.

Translation & Funding

Translation costs may be partially covered through French and international translation-support programs (such as the Institut français or the Centre national du livre), depending on the publishing partner and territory.

Contact

Initial inquiries may be addressed to the author, who will coordinate directly with the French publisher.