Salome: The woman behind the dance

by Joanna Courtney

An evocative, unputdownable novel about the infamous Salome. Discover the woman behind the myth, in this epic and opulent novel, perfect for fans of Jennifer Saint, Madeline Miller, Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir.
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A dutiful royal daughter.

At age fourteen, Princess Salome knows she will soon be ready for marriage - one that will satisfy the ambitions of her mother Herodias. But it is Herodias's own sudden remarriage that will change Salome's life in a way she did not expect.

A girl who loved to dance.

Uprooted to Judea, Salome finds herself in a land full of strange people - none more so than the prophet John 'the Baptiser', who condemns her mother and stepfather for their respective divorces. When John is imprisoned for inciting rebellion, Herodias forces Salome to ask for his head as a gift for her dancing.

A woman ready to fight.

Haunted by her part in John's death, Salome is a very different woman when, a year later, John's protégé, Jesus of Nazareth, begins to gain prominence with his anti-establishment teachings and, thanks in a large part to her own mother, meets a rebel's fate. Now Salome is prepared to stand up for what she believes in - whatever the cost.

Beautiful, brave and strong, it's time for Salome to redefine her story.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mythology, Retellings

401 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 11, 2024

About the author

My first literary accolade was a creative writing prize at primary school and from that point on I wanted to be a novelist. I was always reading as a child and often made up stories for my brother and sister on long car journeys. I was also a huge Enid Blyton fan and by ten I was writing my own (doubtless terrible) boarding school novels. Perhaps inevitably, I took my degree in English literature and it was at Cambridge, specialising in medieval literature, that I first discovered what has become a true passion for ancient history.

I took a sidestep after university to work in a wonderful textiles factory in Lancashire - a move that led me to my lovely husband, but didn't satisfy my yearning to write. Married and living in Derbyshire, however, I took up my pen again in the sparse hours available between raising my two stepchildren and two more of my own. At that hectic time, I primarily wrote shorter fiction and I've had well over 200 stories and serials published in women's magazines. As my children began to grow up and then leave home, however, I have had more time to write.
My passion is freeing women from either the obscurity or the mistruths of male-dominated history. My first trilogy, The Queens of the conquest, is about the women fighting to be Queen of England in 1066 - Edyth of Mercia, wife of King Harold; Elizaveta of Kiev; wife of Harald Hardrada; and Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror.
My second explores the true story of three of Shakespeare's most famous - and most maligned heroines - Lady Macbeth, Ophelia and Cordelia.

I also write WW2 fiction as Anna Stuart.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Read 4.5 STARS!**

This very entertaining and educational historical novel is about Salome daughter of Herodias, two remarkable women in a very hard and men's world within the Holy Land.

At the beginning of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of the Holy land C. AD30, and one of the Herod Family Tree.

At the end of the book you'll notice an Historical Note, where some inspirational end educational details are wonderfully explained.

Storytelling is excellent, all characters come splendidly to life in this tale about the struggles of religion, who it belongs to and how to teach that religion, and the inner fighting within the Herodian family for power in the Holy Land.

This book is divided into three parts, and wee follow the lives, ambitions and deeds of two women especially, namely daughter Salome and mother Herodias, between AD27 until AD33.

What is to follow is a remarkable retelling about this period of history, with two women at the forefront for a change, and all this is brought to us in a most inspirational fashion by the author.

Very much recommended, for this is a wonderful historical novel and that's why I like to call this book: "A Beautiful Graceful Salome Story"!

[Mary Pimbblet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't warm to this at all. it just felt a bit too focused of Jesus and his ministry with Salome shoehorned in to the story at key points, or just getting information second hand all presented neatly to her. I just never felt empathy to Salome as a character, partly due to her own view of herself as a princess, but also because I felt the feminist Christian message was really forced.
It isn't a bad book, it just didn't really work for me.

[Jasmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I have loved every other book by Joanna Courtney, she has a way of bringing women's stories to life.
However, this one felt too much like a sermon. It was less focussed on Salome herself and more on the beginnings of Christianity.
Parts of it felt so preachy that it was unreadable.
This book would definitely appeal to Christian readers if they wanted more of an understanding about Salome and her story, but it just wasn't for me.

[Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

The characters aren't really convincing and there are some terrible historical errors. At least three characters, including John the Baptist and Jesus are described as having blue eyes. Although we aren't told historically what colour eyes Jesus had they are unlikely to have been blue. I thought we had all got beyond the Eurocentric idea of Jesus as a blue-eyed boy.

Also there are mentions of chinchillas - a South American animal and a lawn! Were lawns a thing in 1st century Israel?

[Emily Tams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this perspective! The outside perspective of Jesus was especially interesting and I came to love all of the characters in some way.
Herodias was simultaneously loved and hated for her actions but I’m so glad she got her happy ending.

[Sarah Pragnere · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what I expected exactly, but I expected more than this. I found the characters too stereotypical and the story quite boring.