When Compassion Becomes Rebellion

IndieReader Discovery Award Winner holds up a mirror to the hypocritical "Christian" nationalism of modern America.

As the people of Minneapolis know, a single act of compassion can turn you into ‘the enemy’ of a tyrannical regime. Simple gestures of kindness can become acts of rebellion — even ‘terrorism’ — in the eyes of a dictator. Ironically, it is often regimes that appropriate for themselves the mantle of “Christianity” that most profoundly trample upon the most fundamental of all Christ’s teachings: Love Thy Neighbour as Thyself.

It is written in Matthew 25:41-45.

“Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire ... For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“[The accursed] will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Maybe it is because so many ‘Christian nationalists’ in America today are actively trying to silence Matthew and Christ himself with their cries for cruelty and brutality against the weakest members of our society that the judges of the IndieReader Discovery Awards 2026 honoured The Tale of the English Templar with the First Prize for Fiction.

The Tale of the English Templar is set against the backdrop of the merciless persecution of the Knights Templar for crimes they did not commit. It challenges readers to think about the fundamental principles of Christianity and what it means to each of us. Specifically, it illustrates the choice Christians face when forced to decide between following the laws of the secular state or the laws of Christ.

The leading female character adheres to this basic canon of Christianity with childlike fidelity. She is not self-righteous about it, or defiant or rebellious. She simply cannot do otherwise. Her soul won’t let her.

Felice incarnates Christian love. Indeed, at three different points in the novel, other characters see in her the Virgin Mary incarnate. Once she is seen as the Virgin with the Christ Child, but more hauntingly, she incorporates the Virgin’s role as a grieving mother holding the corpse of her crucified son in her lap.

My character Felice is still a young maiden full of joy and love when the novel opens. She hopes to be a good wife and mother, but she is a teenager with moods and weaknesses. She is certainly no saint. Yet there is one thing she cannot do: she cannot abandon a helpless human in desperate need of help. Because of this, she sets off a chain reaction that results in men risking their lives and freedom — and ultimately takes her to a confrontation over theology with the pope in Avignon.

Felice de Preuthune does not don armour or wear men’s clothing. She is not rebellious or full of anachronistic notions of women’s rights. She is a devout, modest, and obedient medieval maiden. Yet she is also a Christian soldier in the struggle against injustice and tyranny. She is part of the resistance to tyranny that is the soul of this novel. She fights unceasingly to defeat hatred in the hearts of men.

She should be an inspiration to us all.

Chanticleer Book Reviews noted that “The Tale of the English Templar explores the ambiguity of morality and faith, and how loyalty, fear and ambition intersect in dangerous times. At its core, this is a book about conviction — what we believe, and what we’ll risk to defend it.… The Tale of the English Templar by Helena P. Schrader rewards readers with insight, depth, and a cast of characters who refuse to be forgotten.”

The Coffee Pot Book Club Review writes: “The Tale of the English Templar by Helena P. Schrader stands out as a masterful work of historical fiction. With its enthralling plot and vividly drawn characters, this novel not only captivates but also challenges readers to engage in profound reflection and moral contemplation. Schrader’s exquisite prose ensures that this unforgettable story will resonate deeply in the readers’ hearts long after they turn the last page…. If you read only one book this year, let it be this one. The story will captivate and inspire you in ways you never anticipated.”

The Tale of the English Templar is available on amazon, Barnes and Noble and other online platforms in both paperback and ebook formats.

(PS: the image used above is Emma Thompson as Princess Katherine in Kenneth Branagh’s filming of Shakespeare’s Henry V. It is totally unrelated to my novel — except that this is the way I picture Felice!)

For my paid subscribers, I have added a gallery of photos taken at venues mentioned in the novel. My travels through the South of France inspired this novel!

Felice is the daughter of the Lord of Najac. These images show the castle as it is today. Graffiti from Templar prisoners has been found on the walls here.

These medieval towns in the surrounding region give an impression of what urban life was like in this period.

Albi is the setting of one of the most dramatic scenes in the novel. Below the Cathedral.

Finally, some medieval interiors to help imagine life in this period.