Padua, 2025. In the lecture chair where Galileo once taught, a Dutch student discovers a yellowed note: lines in Latin, addressed to the master himself. It mentions an anagram — an answer from Prague, and a secret that remained hidden for four centuries. What follows is a journey through archives, towers and monasteries, tombs and museums. Together with historian of science Sienna Vermeer, Vincent unravels a trail left by Galileo himself, with help from his pupil Viviani and Leiden’s free press.
A story about truth and silence, science and faith, fathers and daughters. The Third Anagram is a historical novel based on real facts and locations – a journey through time and knowledge, and a tribute to the role the Netherlands played in both the birth and preservation of what changed the world forever.
A story filled with codes, letters, gravestones and telescopes. And about truth – unfolding ever further into something greater than itself.
A Dutch version is also available via Het Derde Anagram
An excerpt from Chapter XIII: “My dearest daughter…” She fell silent. It was only a salutation, yet it moved her deeply. A father writing to his daughter. Not the scientist addressing the world, not the heretic facing Rome. Simply himself. Vincent was quiet for a moment. Then he said softly, “And perhaps… he did not write to her about numbers and formulas. Not literally. But perhaps he did write about what weighed on him most. About the burden he carried.” Sienna looked at him. Her eyes were moist, but she smiled.”
For now I placed reviews of the Dutch version here, but these will be replaced as soon as I receive the first reviews of the English version. You can find all reviews here:
Gerard from Zeeland, Netherlands
“The Third Anagram by Bas Griffioen is a surprisingly compelling and suspenseful novel in which past and present converge. A debut novel with real literary potential!”
Ilke from Geffen, Netherlands
“What an intriguing book: a mysterious journey of discovery through history. It truly gives you something to think about.”
Ton from Schaijk, Netherlands
“Wonderful. It is impressive how facts and imagination have been woven into such a gripping novel”
Currently only the physical printed-on-demand edition is available to order in paperback. An e-book, an audiobook and an English edition may follow soon. A solution for Belgium is also being explored. In the meantime, you can treat yourself, someone else or your entire team to a beautiful, real book:
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