Beyond the Desert Gate

by Mary Ray

Paperback, 2001

Status

Available

Call number

F1933

Series

Roman Empire Sequence (4)

Genres

Fiction

Publication

Ignatius Press (2001), Edition: 2nd Revised edition, 190 pages

Description

Palestine, first century A.D.-the Jews have revolted against Roman occupation. 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 and must each find a way for themselves. Philo, the youngest, is befriended by Xenos, the man saved from the desert, who has lost his memory. From him the boy learns the art of 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. Sequel to The Ides of April.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Hamburgerclan

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, easy book worth checking out.
--J.

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