From Publishers Weekly
Harek, author of biblically-inspired novels such as Zipporah, Wife of Moses and Sarah, imagines the childhood and tumultuous young adulthood of Miriam (Mary) of Nazareth, mother of Jesus. Her loving parents Joachim and Hannah want to protect their daughter, but violence surrounds them as Herod's egregious taxation sparks Jewish insurrection. Miriam befriends a young revolutionary named Barabbas (yes, the same seditious Barabbas to be released more than three decades later instead of Jesus), and her world is upended by political uncertainty. In Halter's hands, Miriam is equal parts brazen temerity and quiet holiness, her deep courage an example to those who would submit to injustice, her scholarship unusual among women and her skill at healing remarkable. The novel offers brisk pacing and a good deal of adventure. Along the way, readers will learn a great deal of the ascetic Essene sect and the traditions and practices of first-century Judaism. And the novel's climax-the famous Annunciation-happens not out of the blue, but because a determined Miriam asks Yahweh to bring the Messiah and is blessed. In Halter's hands, Mary is not a passive receptacle of divine grace, but an active agent in changing the world.
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Review
"[In
Mary of Nazareth] Halter has created a memorable and appealing heroine."
—
Historical Novels Review"A worthy heiress to Anita Diamant’s bestseller
The Red Tent, [
Sarah is] an entertaining read, with a heroine who uses both her brain and her femininity to astonishing effect."
—
Atlanta Journal-Constitution “A brilliant achievement: packed with drama and suspense, powerfully engaging and thought-provoking. This is Halter at his best–by offering his own intriguing interpretation of Mary’s life, he builds bridges across the millennia and across different faiths and cultures.”
—Eva Etzioni-Halevy, author of
The Song of Hannah and
The Garden of Ruth “How much can a mother influence the path that her child chooses? Halter provides a dazzling new look at the most famous mother of them all–in the important years before motherhood. In the midst of the political turmoil of first-century Palestine, Mary shines forth as an advocate for liberation through peaceful means. Like the great biblical heroines before her, she is a woman of faith, courage, and action.
Mary of Nazareth will inspire women of all faiths who yearn for peace and freedom.”
—Rebecca Kohn, author of
The Gilded Chamber: A Novel of Queen Esther “By giving a voice to Mary of Nazareth, Merek Halter resurrects one of the most fascinating women in history. A story as richly imagined as it is illuminating.”
—Michelle Moran, national bestselling author of
Nefertiti