Selene of Alexandria - Paperback

by Faith L. Justice (Author)

She yearns to be a healer. When an ambitious bishop accuses her of witchcraft, can she survive his dark plot?

Alexandria, AD 412. Selene longs to defy tradition. Haunted by memories of her mother and infant brother's deaths from a fever, the tenacious teen dreams of becoming a skilled physician. So she dons a daring disguise to seek out the patronage of the influential pagan philosopher, Hypatia.

Elated when her risky gambit pays off, Selene's eager pursuit of wisdom is made rocky by jealous male rivals and rioting Christians, Jews, and Egyptians. And as the unrest in the streets rises to festering new heights, the once-naïve student quickly realizes she's being targeted by her mentor's enemies.

Will her tenderhearted efforts to save others leave her defenseless against their deadly accusations?

In this gritty and vivid novel, award-winning author Faith L. Justice spins an insightful tale anchored by the influential life of one of history's first female philosopher-mathematicians. After gazing at the often-brutal culture of her time through the lens of an ordinary family's choices, you'll emerge with a newfound understanding of this era of vast religious, social, and political change.

Selene of Alexandria is a meticulously researched work of historical fiction. If you like fast-paced action, well-crafted dialogue, and complex themes, then you'll adore Faith L. Justice's illuminating view into antiquity.

Author Biography

Faith L. Justice writes award-winning novels, short stories, and articles in Brooklyn, New York. Her work has appeared in such publications as Salon.com, Writer's Digest, The Copperfield Review, and the Circles in the Hair anthology. She is a frequent contributor to Strange Horizons, Associate Editor for Space and Time Magazine, and co-founded a writer's workshop many more years ago than she likes to admit. For fun, she likes to dig in the dirt-her garden and various archaeological sites.