Sarah: A NovelThe first novel in a dazzling new trilogy about the women of the Old Testament by internationally bestselling author Marek Halter. The story of Sarah--and of history itself--begins in the cradle of civilization: the Sumerian city-state of Ur, a land of desert heat, towering gardens, and immense wealth. The daughter of a powerful lord, Sarah is raised in great luxury, but balks at the arranged marriage her father has planned for her. The groom is handsome and a nobleman, but on their wedding day, Sarah panics and impulsively flees to the vast, empty marshes outside the city walls. There she meets a young man, Abram, a member of a nomadic tribe of outsiders. Drawn to this exotic stranger, Sarah spends the night with him, but reluctantly returns to her father's house. But on her return, still desperate to avoid another wedding, she drinks a poisonous potion that will make her barren and thus unfit for marriage. Many years later, Abram's people return to Ur, and he discovers that the lost, rebellious girl from the marsh has been transformed into the most splendid and revered woman in Sumeria--the high priestess of the goddess Ishtar. But the memory of their night together has always haunted Sarah, and she gives up her exalted life to join Abram's tribe and follow the one true God, an invisible deity who speaks only to Abram. It is then that her journey truly begins--a journey that holds the key to her remarkable destiny as the mother of nations. From the great ziggurat of Ishtar and the fertile valleys of Canaan to the bedchamber of the mighty Pharaoh himself, Sarah's story reveals an ancient world full of beauty, intrigue, and miracles. |
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Abraham Abram Akkad anger arms asked aunts barů beautiful belly body breath bronze bull Canaan chamber of blood cheeks chest child courtyard cried daughter dream Egime Eliezer Eridu eyes face father fear fingers flock girl give gods going Hagar hair hand happened happiness Haran head heard heart Hebron herbs husband Ichbi Sum-Usur Inanna Isaac Ishtar Kiddin kiss knew land laugh Lilah lips listen looked lords Lot's MAREK HALTER Melchizedek Midian moon mouth neck never night Nintu opened Orma Pharaoh replied river Sacred Handmaid Salem Sarah scented Sefoba shook shoulders Shu-Sin silence Sililli sister skin sleep smile soothsayer stood stopped Sumer sure tears tell temple tent Terah terebinth thighs things thought toga took Tsout-Phenath tunic turned veil voice waiting walked walls whispered wife woman womb women words Yhwh young ziggurat Zipporah