A HISTORICAL MYSTERY NOVEL IMAGINES THE RIVETING STORY BEHIND THE BOOK OF RUTH

Sitting beneath a tree in ancient Bethlehem, Osnath, niece of the prophet Samuel, examines a dusty scrap of parchment she found hidden in her relative's scroll room. Scrawled on the decaying page is an intriguing message addressed to Ruth the Moabite--great-grandmother of David, the future king of Israel. Compelled to discover the truth about Ruth's life, Osnath begins searching for the identity of Ruth's nameless lover and the secret that is cloaked behind his anonymity. But as she digs deeper into the past, she finds her inquiries blocked by David's brother Eliab. What is the long-buried truth he fears will come to light? And what is the threat that Ruth's story poses to his family's vast inheritance?     

Eva Etzioni-Halevy's novel deftly interweaves history and fiction to create a compelling exploration of a prominent biblical figure. Told through the voices of both Osnath and Ruth herself, The Garden of Ruth transports readers into the ancient world--and offers a dramatic and thought-provoking new perspective on a well-known tale.

Apart from offering a gripping plot with a touch of mystery. A story of betrayal and passionate love, The Garden of Ruth gives voice to women in the Bible. Below its surface there lurks a feminist message about strong and intelligent women who participated in the shaping and recording of ancient Israel's history. Thus they exerted an influence on Judaism and through it on Western culture, which still affects us today.

Enfolded in the novel is a message of interfaith tolerance on the proper manner of dealing with outsiders. It also deals with the issue of intermarriage in biblical times, which is still eminently relevant today.

Paperback. [ISBN] 978-0-452-28673-5
The Garden of Ruth is published by Plume, a division of Penguin Group (USA)