David : Warrior and King

by Frank G. Slaughter

Warrior and King. Author; Frank G. Slaughter. 411 pages, hardcover, Copyright 1962.

Genres: Fiction, Biblical Fiction, Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Frank Gill Slaughter , pen-name Frank G. Slaughter, pseudonym C.V. Terry, was an American novelist and physician whose books sold more than 60 million copies. His novels drew on his own experience as a doctor and his interest in history and the Bible. Through his novels, he often introduced readers to new findings in medical research and new medical technologies.

Slaughter was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Stephen Lucious Slaughter and Sarah "Sallie" Nicholson Gill. When he was about five years old, his family moved to a farm near Berea, North Carolina, which is west of Oxford, North Carolina. He earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity College (now Duke University) at 17 and went to medical school at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He began writing fiction in 1935 while a physician at Riverside Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

Books by Slaughter include The Purple Quest, Surgeon, U.S.A., Epidemic! , Tomorrow's Miracle and The Scarlet Cord. Slaughter died May 17, 2001 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This superb biographical novel by prolific and famed author Frank Slaughter, is indeed the best novel I have read so far, on the topic of David, King of Israel.
Slaughter stays faithful to the Biblical account while fleshing out in great colour and movement, making for a compelling and rivetting read.
He describes all of the events of David's life and reign, from his life as a shepherd boy, who slew lions and bears to protect his flocks, to his rise to prominence, his strugle with Saul, and his carving out of a mighty Israelite Commowealth.
Wonderful characterization and a particularly beautiful description of his first youthful meeeting with the young Michal, King Saul's daughter.

The fact that G-D always stayed beside David is always there, as illustrated by the incident where King David flees Jerusalem after the rebellion by his son Absalom, and looking at the city, feels G-D's assurance, that he David, will be victorious and prevail.

No matter how well you know the story of David, this is a real gem, that creates a powerful narrative from the facts recorded in the Scriptures.
A very prolific illustration of the Near East at the time, with excellent maps at the front of the novel.
Incredible descriptions of the people and landscape of Ancient Israel.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this! It was my first time reading a biography on a person from the Bible and I'd highly recommend! It's cool to reflect on how David's personality might have been and changed and grew throughout his life, and this makes him so much more real, reading more historical context and the stories all lined up. It also makes reading about him in the Bible seem so much bigger, having read all the context that you don't always see or understand is cool! Anyways, it was good and I liked it.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice expansion of the verses of Samuel in the Bible to create a whole life for David, his wars, his loves, his fight to bring Israel together, and his sons.

[Cami · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really fun to read this book and learn more about the biblical David. I enjoyed learning the timeline of all the events in his life and also learning that there was more to the man than just Killing a Giant and stealing some other guy's wife. It was a good read, hence the name of this website. ;)

[Carlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this in a study group right now. Older book, but very good development of the personalities of David and the people around him.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follows the Book Of Samuel 1&2 explicitly. A good introduction to the life of David in novel form.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great background information about David, his family and his life. An easy read, flows well.