The Secret of San Miniato

An ancient secret is enshrined in a mysterious inscription dated1207, still to be seen on the ornate marble floor of the Basilica of SanMiniato in Florence. This story holds the key to that secret. The narrative unfolds in the latter part of the 12th century whenFrederick Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor, was forcefullyseeking to bring the Italian communes to heel under his rule inEurope, and the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem was reeling under themortal blows of Saladin in the Holy Land. Against the backdrop ofthese dramatic events, Yosef, a young Florentine Jew, pursues hissearch for the mysterious “stone” capable of imparting anunderstanding of the whole of creation: the legendary Grail. Gathering pace with every page turned, picking up speed as it rushesheadlong towards its arcane ending, the story hurtles along amidYosef’s heroic deeds and the moving love that binds him for eternityto the beautiful Miriam. “Questo romanzo sta alla pletora di opere di questo genere come i Promessi Sposi stanno al romanzo storico italiano di inizio Ottocento... Se Manetti in persona abbia o meno trovato la pietra filosofale, difficile dirlo, e comunque non lo rivelerebbe: di certo però ha trovato la strada per un capolavoro…” Domenico Del Nero “Manetti riesce a parlare dell’indescrivibile, spesso ricorrendo ad accenti di pura poesia…” Anna Giacomini I Italian edition: October 2006 I reprint: November 2007 I English edition: November 2017 (translation by Stephen Tobin)