The Seventh Unicorn

The Story

Alexandra Pellier is a young widow and mother of a six-year-old daughter. As a curator for the Cluny Museum in Paris, she is invited to a convent south of Lyon to examine items dating back to the convent's founding in the thirteenth century. The nuns of Sainte Blandine wish to dispose of their possessions before a forced move to a retirement convent. During her brief visit, Alex finds nothing of interest to her museum, but comes across an ancient poem that she initially dismisses as an insignificant and poorly written little verse.

On a return trip she discovers a set of drawings and realizes that, along with the poem, they suggest the startling possibility of an additional tapestry in the famous six-piece set The Lady and the Unicorn displayed in the Cluny. A journey begins as details in the poem and drawings reveal a forbidden medieval love affair and offer clues that might lead to the hidden tapestry. When Jake Bowman, a man from Alex's past, returns to Paris and becomes involved in her search, she is forced to look within herself and examine her own capacity for love.

The Story behind the Story

Kelly Jones' interest in tapestries began when she received a replica of a medieval tapestry as a birthday gift and set out to discover the origin and meaning of the design. She learned that her tapestry was inspired by one of a six-piece set, The Lady and the Unicorn.

Based on the style of the tapestries and the coat of arms that appears repeatedly on each, they were probably commissioned by Jean Le Viste IV in the late 1400s and woven in Brussels. Hidden from the general public for over four hundred years, they were discovered at the Château de Boussac in central France by French novelist George Sand in the 19th Century. She wrote about the tapestries and drew attention to their existence and the poor condition in which they were found. Eventually purchased by the State, they were restored and now hang in the Musée National du Moyen Age Thermes de Cluny in Paris.

The most widely accepted theory is that five of the tapestries represent the five senses. The final piece, A Mon Seul Désir, remains a mystery. Many believe the six-piece set is complete; others have suggested additional pieces may have existed at one time.

Praise for THE SEVENTH UNICORN

"The Seventh Unicorn is one of those rare reading experiences; page-turning and insightful, it explores the human condition in a way that few novels do. Kelly Jones is a wonderful writer, and definitely one to watch."
Nicholas Sparks, author of The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember

"A beautiful, ambitious 30-something widow searches for a lost (and possibly apocryphal) medieval tapestry-and, with a little less self-awareness, for true love-in Jones's absorbing, thoroughly satisfying debut."
Publishers Weekly, August 29, 2005

"Fans of novels based on famous artwork (Tracy Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring, for example) will love Jones' well-imagined romantic saga behind the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries."
Greg Likins, Thrive, The Idaho Statesman, January 17, 2006

"Jones writes in a bare-bones style that takes nothing away from the rich details and spot on characterizations. . . Along with fine writing, Jones delivers a nice feel for place while taking the reader on a bit of a tour, from Paris to Lyon. . ."
Dana Dugan, Idaho Mountain Express, February, 2006

"Intriguing debut full of interesting details and history. . . a haunting and breathtaking story."
Jory Reedy, fresh FICTION, 2005

"This is a must read for fans of mystery, history, and art."
Deborah Hern, Romance Reader's Connection, 2005

"Kelly does the historical treasure-hunt thing enjoyably."
The Poisoned Pen recommended reading, 2005

Berkley Books

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Translations

The Seventh Unicorn

The Story

The Story behind the Story

Praise for THE SEVENTH UNICORN