Cry for Jerusalem

by Ward Sanford

“An impressive blend of historical portrayal and dramatic fiction” -- Kirkus Reviews

The events and characters of this novel series are based on the writings of the first-century, Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. The First Jewish Revolt against Rome in the first century led to the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, and to the rise of Christianity and modern Judaism. Now for the first time, ancient eyewitness accounts have been transformed into a series of suspense-laden novels, letting you enter the lives of the men and women involved on both sides. You get to experience their fears and hopes and dreams as they are forced to confront life and death and the meaning of their lives on a daily basis. This is an epic story you that will keep you engaged and wanting to read more!

In Book 1—Resisting Tyranny, you meet the cast of main characters as they struggle to survive when their ship is capsized in a storm in the middle of the Adriatic. On arrival in Rome, they must face the whims of an emperor and the great fire that almost consumes the city. Once in Jerusalem, evil forces seek to ignite a rebellion as our friends try to hold together a fragile status quo. As open warfare erupts, the Romans realize they have greatly underestimated their foe.

In Book 2—Against All Odds, the enthusiasm following a Jewish victory quickly erodes as they see the empire planning to strike back. Returning with a more experienced leader and in much greater numbers, the Romans first attack Galilee. There at the siege of the fortified headquarters, our friends find themselves on opposite sides. Visions and an escape from certain death lead to capture and imprisonment, while in Judea an escape from evil leads to an uncertain future.

In Book 3—Growing Anarchy, Jerusalem begins to unravel with fear as competing rebel leaders vie for control of the city. Romance compels a trip to the far reaches of the Empire, where aide is sought from a politician with rising ambitions for the imperial throne. His favor may be the only hope of an escape from behind enemy lines in Jerusalem. Meanwhile our heroine, turned assassin, has found that killing enemy spies can mean killing friends, yielding a vengeance more bitter than sweet.

In Book 4—coming in early 2023, Rome finds itself in its own civil war with emperors lasting for months, not decades. Jerusalem continues to suffer under rival factions whose self-serving leaders refuse to unite. Their failure suddenly comes into sharp focus when the Romans arrive to a city with empty food stores. Fierce battles accompany a long siege, and starvation leads to acts of desperation. A last-minute plea for peace fails, and friends must look for meaning to what fate has delivered.

For more details and background visit us at www.cryforjerusalem.com.

“The story sweeps across a first-century world that’s diverse, gritty, and laced with tension. . . . Everything is supported by an incredibly well-researched foundation. The time period and social customs are delightfully developed… there is political and religious strife, moments of ancient beauty, and well-developed characters to carry the plot forward.”
-- Historical Novels Review February 2020

“The plot is as gripping as it is historically edifying, remarkably authentic, and rigorously researched. At its conclusion, readers will be left impatient for the book’s se quel. An impressive blend of historical portrayal and dramatic fiction.”
--Kirkus Reviews June 2020

Amazon Reviewer
★★★★★ The characters are so well developed that you feel for them, hope for them; in some cases you hate them, in others you love them! I especially appreciate the variety of main characters-peaceful Jewish believers, extremists, sympathetic non-Jews, those in the ruling classes, soldiers, etc.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Israel

459 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2019

About the author

Dr. Ward Sanford is an internationally renowned hydrogeologist who has spent over thirty years studying and writing journal articles on the availability and sustainability of groundwater around the United States and the world. He has given professional advice on sites in Texas, Virginia, New Mexico, Hungary, Central America, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as undertaken missions with the International Atomic Energy Agency to Thailand and the U. S. State Department to Libya.

More recently he has developed a keen interest in the first-century history of Israel through the writings of the contemporary historian Flavius Josephus. His desire is now to bring those recorded events to life through dramatization in a series of novels entitled Cry for Jerusalem. He and his wife and two sons and daughter-in-law live in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC.

Reviews

[Cindy Marsch]

I enjoyed editing this first of four volumes covering the fall of Jerusalem--Sanford has transformed the accounts of Josephus into the familiar historical novel form, following a priestly Jewish family and several Roman characters and others who are swept up in the drama of these culturally pivotal days. Well done! (No star rating since I edited this book)

[J. Else · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in a four-novel series, "Resisting Tyranny" introduces readers to four unlikely friends brought together by a life-threatening accident at sea. A Roman centurion, an auxiliary soldier, a wealthy and soon-to-be-married noble lady, and a Jewish scholar form a bond of friendship that could save Jerusalem from the greed of their Roman overlords. But can they stop a war before it’s too late?

The story sweeps across a first-century world that’s diverse, gritty, and laced with tension. Majestic and colorful landscapes such as Jerusalem, Rome, and the many places in between, both on land and sea, are richly detailed. I loved the maps that are included at the beginning.

Sanford uses his characters well. Men and women have strong influence on the plot, including women who interacted with and changed their circumstances despite social constraints. Everything is supported by an incredibly well-researched foundation. The time period and social customs are delightfully developed.

My only concern is I found the book a little long. Some sections start at the end of a battle, which is slightly disconcerting. I wasn’t with the characters because I was still figuring out how we got that far into the confrontation in the first place. However, there is political and religious strife, moments of ancient beauty, and well-developed characters to carry the plot forward. Sanford is a talented author with an exciting new series to get lost in.

Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...

[Deborah Steenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, the draw of historical novels is that I can not only learn history, but also learn a little more about human nature, and gain a little wisdom in an entertaining way. This first book in the Cry For Jerusalem series, called Resisting Tyranny, by Ward Sanford, delivers on all counts.

Toward the beginning of the book, two statements made by characters (at different times in the story) seemed to me to reflect the word choice of modern speakers which for a moment mentally took me out of the world the author created. Mr. Sanford’s skillful weaving of the story brought me right back and from then on, I was continually engaged.

The characters are believable, they have qualities we love and qualities we love to hate. Mr. Sanford does a great job showing how the aggregate of the choices of everyday people moves the course of events. Simple acts of kindness and seemingly small acts of selfishness can lead to great consequences for better or for worse. As I finished this book this evening, my first thought was “I have to order the 2nd book in the series!” – so I did.

[Marilyn Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!
The people and their struggles just thirty plus years after the crucifiction of Christ, brought to life.

The all powerful Roman Empire has extracted taxes from nearly all the areas it controlled surrounding the Mediterranean, and now wants more and more wealth. Nero, the Emperor and his corrupt and greedy cohorts, have decided to get more from the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. As the Jews try to protect the Temple's treasures, their is a great divide of opinions by the Jews themselves. The characters developed by the author became so real to me that I found myself tearing up or gasping with the descriptions of violence by the warring factions. When I came to the end of Book 1, I jumped right into Book 2.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was meticulously researched and well-written. It offers a glimpse into the history of Jerusalem without being overtly religious in nature - something rarely offered to historical fiction readers. The snapshot of a Jewish family under Roman occupation focuses on the difficulties of social change, corruption, nationalism, honor, and zealotry. Difficult choices are made by Yosef and a Roman Centurian befriended during a tragic accident at sea. But fate isn't yet finished with them, as they find themselves on opposing sides of a major conflict. The timeless lesson of history once again teaches us that issues do not always reflect reality and the greedy opportunists will always bend the truth to get what they want.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Destined to meet again

The story of four people that crossed paths unexpectedly that keep meeting in unusual circumstances. This is a story of the greed for power, land, and money of the Roman Empire and the people that tried to fight back.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cry for Jerusalem

This is a very good book. Lots of history put into context. Well written and not overly gory. I enjoyed this book very much and would like to continue the series.

[Carol & Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed this read

[Cindy Marsch]

(No rating because I edited this book.)

Why has no one thought before of dramatizing the process Josephus went through to write his history of the fall of Jerusalem? Ward Sanford is organizing a complex, multi-volume effort to do so, enlivening the various subplots of this swords-and-sandals epic in a way that makes for easier reading than the original. I could see this onscreen as another *Ben Hur* or *Spartacus.*

This work deserves its strong reviews from Kirkus and The Historical Novel Society.