The Book of Tamar

Now seen through the eyes of the young woman who became the unwilling catalyst to cruel events - incest, murder, and war, this is the controversial retelling of the epic of Absalom. Tamar, daughter of the famous King David, is raped by her half-brother. Although angered, David does nothing. Tamar's full-brother Absalom is outraged over the crime and the King's inaction. Absalom and his mother Makha plot revenge. While this turmoil unfolds, Bathsheba (David's most favored wife) quietly maneuvers to have her son Solomon inherit the throne, bypassing Absalom and the older brothers. Tamar loves her family above all others and is horrified to see her family's quarrel escalate out of control. She bravely struggles to prevent the clash from degenerating into civil war and undertakes a remarkable journey on foot to find the King. Her companion Hana accompanies her, disguised as a warrior to protect Tamar. But she cannot prevent the tragic denouement. As her world crumbles about her, Tamar keeps focus and has personal triumph in the end. After three thousand years, Tamar tells the story in her own words. The novel is an interesting study of two charismatic leaders who were themselves very flawed personalities, about the anguish within a family that was torn apart by their clash, and about a mother and daughter, whose love for each other is strained by their differing loyalties.