The human need to reach out and touch another is strong enough to transcend time and place.The Face tells two exciting, thought-provoking stories about this in one novel.
The Past
In the early First Century C.E., a 12-year-old orphan from a Syrian tribe makes his way alone through Judea on his way to the renown city of Jerusalem. Yonnes – who later renames himself Jonah – knows nothing of religion and gods, let alone one God. He barely knows a few words of the language of Judea. Hungry almost to the point of hallucinating, he stumbles upon Christ as He performs the miracle of the loaves and fishes on the mount in Bethsaida. Although others disdain the foreigner, Christ chats with the boy and personally feeds him. He also imparts words of guidance. Remarkably, Jonah has no trouble with the Judean language, although the meaning of Christ’s words will perplex him for years to come. Nonetheless, Jonah realizes that something special has transpired.
On his way to Jerusalem, Jonah learns more about the ways and beliefs of the Jews and their conquerors, the Romans. He also sees first-hand the true nature of charlatans who claim to be the “Messiah.” In Jerusalem, he grows into young manhood and, under the tutelage of a crusty mentor, becomes a fine fresco artist. Jonah even finds himself an isolated place outside the city where he develops his draftsmanship with images of loaves and fish and the kindest person he has ever met.
Jonah sees that person once more, days before the crucifixion. In the aftermath of that harrowing event, Jonah becomes a follower of Simon and his restless band of Zealots. Jonah tries to learn more about the teachings of Christ from the other Apostles but they all ostracize him, except for late-comer Paul.
When a bold strike against the Romans by Simon goes awry, Jonah ends up a slave in the Herculaneum villa of Julia Livilla, sister of the Roman Emperor Caligula. Slavery is the ultimate shame for Jonah, but Julia’s use of his talent for fresco painting helps chip away at his bitterness. He also has a window into the court intrigue, treason, and betrayal that envelop Julia and lead to her tragic fate. In the midst of the chaos and in service to his fellow slaves, Jonah learns to interpret and apply the words that Christ spoke to him years earlier. This places Jonah at great personal risk but, in the process, he gains what has always eluded him.
The Recent
Prof. Samantha Calvin jets to Italy when she should be preparing for the start of the Fall semester at Princeton University. Her Italian colleague, Vittoria Angelini, has urged her to make the trip because of a recent discovery in the earthquake-damaged ruins of Herculaneum, where Vittoria leads a summer archaeological course for graduate students from the University of Naples.
With the help of Samantha’s knowledge of the Aramaic languages, the two competitive professors uncover clues which suggest that the teachings of Christ reached the hub of Roman civilization decades earlier than previously thought. More important, a map in a forgotten chamber compels the women to race to the Holy Land in search of perhaps the most important artwork of all time.
Soon doubts arise about some of Vittoria’s students, who seem determined to leapfrog over her into the international archaeological spotlight. Throughout, Samantha also grapples with doubts about her life’s direction and suspicions about Vittoria’s motives for requesting her assistance. However, one serendipitous perk turns out to be Vittoria’s brother, a light-hearted, caring man whose instant attraction to Samantha lifts her sagging spirits.
Samantha and Vittoria are both in their 40s and sense that now is the time to make their marks in their professions. Not completely trusting each other but with unwavering mutual professional respect, the women wheel and deal and face the hurdles to what they hope will be a career-changing discovery.
The Face is available at Amazon, in Kindle and paperback formats.
ANTON CIRCLES HIS WORLD 