Thriller writer takes inspiration from bone chapel in Sedlec

Fans of crime fiction will probably already be familiar with the books of Irish thriller writer John Connolly, the bestselling author whose novels blend the macabre and the supernatural. Over five books, Connolly's character, the private eye Charlie Parker has come up against some pretty nasty individuals and he again faces difficult tests in Connolly's newest release "The Black Angel". Part of the thriller is set in the Czech Republic and was actually inspired by a famous ossuary - a bone chapel - in Sedlec at Kutna Hora.

John Connolly signs his book 'The Black Angel' in Prague, photo: CTK

I met with John Connolly this week and asked him how he felt about Sedlec's ossuary, as well as Prague.

"Prague is probably one of the few cities in Europe apart from Dublin that I could see myself living in - since we're talking here in Prague. I came here, um, when I much younger, I came here at the beginning of the 90s and it was quite different. I was fascinated by its history. And, history has played a large part of the Parker books: they're very much concerned with the past and the impact of the past upon the present.

And, a few years ago I was reading a newspaper article, a weekend supplement and there was a feature on Sedlec and its ossuary, near Kutna Hora, and I just thought it was fascinating. These pictures of remains of about 40,000 human beings I think and furnished: made into chandeliers and monstrances and they've been decorated in chains on the ceiling of the chapel. Dating, I think, back to the 16th century, with later additions in the 18th and 19th. There are four free-standing bone pyramids.

Sedlec's ossuary

Writers are very magpie-ish and that had stuck with me and when I began writing "The Black Angel" I wanted a kind of symbol or metaphor running through the book and Sedlec became it. A memento mori: reminding people that no matter how bad or good this life will be, it will pass."

John Connolly's detective Charlie Parker once again has his work cut out for him in "The Black Angel". I asked John, how over five novels, Parker had come through:

"As the books have gone on I think he's really realised his duty towards others, I think, and he has realised that he wants to rebuild his life. That there is a way of overcoming [his difficulties]: either you can become marred with bitterness and anger and become the very thing that you hate, or you can try and achieve something and you can try and say 'I won't let this destroy me'. He doesn't always succeed, but he has become more complex as the series has gone on. And, I think, a little more likeable."

If you're interested in learning more about "The Black Angel" visit johnconnollybooks.com where you'll also find a link to the bone chapel in Sedlec in the Czech Republic.