The Miracle (published in 1984) - Written by Irving Wallace

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book "Sins of Peter Fleming" did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was a best seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies. He died on June 29, 1990.
A Miracle as defined by the oxford dictionary is an occurrence through faith which has no scientific proof or rational explanation. Wallace tries to weave a tale of intrigue, faith and love around the old legend of the Lady of Lourdes.
Lady of Lourdes is the Virgin Mary who had appeared to the shepherd girl Bernadette on the slopes of Lourdes. Bernadette sees the vision of our Lady and is subjected to intense scrutiny by the world and the faithful visit the grotto where the Lady had appeared in search of a miracle. It is said that the waters of the Grotto have healing powers and millions flock to Lourdes during the pilgrimage season celebrating the arrival of Our Lady before Bernadette.



So the novel opens with a scroll presented by Bernadette being opened by the Vatican council. According to this the Virgin Mary will again appear in Lourdes during the 8 day feast period. AS the church makes this information public millions flock to Lourdes for the miracle. Wallace centers the tale around five character's, principally women who travel to Lourdes for the Lady.
Sergei Tikhanov is a soviet official who suffers from muscular dystrophy and travels to Lourdes incognito as the communist party does not accept any religion. He hopes to get a cure and hires a young guide Gisele Dupree as an interpretor. Gisele has an agenda of her own and is looking for an avenue to get back in to the United Nations favored circle and get her job back. Peter Clayton, an young American is suffering from cancer and reaches Lourdes after canceling his treatments with a skeptical fiancée, Amanda in tow.
Amanda is a no non sense psychologist who does not believe in miracles. She has able company in Liz Finch, a hard nosed journalist who wants to debunk the miracle theory. She teams up with Amanda to expose the racket of Lourdes. Beautiful Natalie Rinaldi is stricken by a mysterious disease which has made her blind and she fervently believes that Virgin Mary will restore her sight in Lourdes. The sweet English woman Edith Moore is a poster girl for the Grotto as she has been cured of her cancer due to the intercession of Mother Mary. But she is a reluctant participant in this publicity which is commercially exploited by husband Roger. Basque terrorist Mikel Hurtado wants to blow up the shrine for his political beliefs and reaches Lourdes with the sole intention of destruction.
As the novel progresses you find the question of Faith is the touchstone, with the cure possible for Natalie Rinaldi where she finds sight and love from Hurtado who denounces the violence. But for Edith and Clayton the cure does not come and they look for medicine. For Gisele death follows and Tikhanov becomes the murderer. Wallace weaves the most splendid story with no preaching and is one of my favorite books in his collection. Read it and enjoy.