Beyond the Desert Gate

Palestine in the first century A.D. is disturbed and divided. The Jews have revolted against Roman occupation and as they grow more restive, Rome clamps down harder. The ten Greek cities of Palestine the Decapolis want only to continue their peaceful trading existence, but they find themselves caught in the middle of the uprisings.

Apollodorus, a merchant of Philadelphia, takes a risk and rescues a man whom a Roman patrol has left to die in the desert. When Apollodorus is killed by robbers, his three sons are left almost penniless. Conan, Nicanor and Philo must each find a way for themselves. Philo, the youngest, is befriended by Xenos, the man saved from the desert, the man who has lost his memory. From him the boy learns the art of show more the scribe, and together they try to find their identity - one from the past, the other for the future. A serious story of an important time in history. show less

This one's another book by the author of "The Ides of April". Actually, it's supposedly the fourth installment in a series of five books. ("Ides" was the second.) I don't know if I lost much by not reading the series in proper order. I did enjoy this one, regardless. It's the tale of a boy named Philo, who lives in ancient Palestine in the city of Philadelphia. (modern day Amman) His father is a trader and he comes home from his latest journey with an unusual guest--a man who was staked out to die in the desert by Roman soldiers. Who the man is and how he fits in with the family's fortunes in the next couple of years are played out in the first half of the book. But the crux of the story is esentially Philo's coming of age. It's a nice, show more easy book worth checking out.
--J. show less