Promise

by Ben Brown

It's the beginning of World War I and Herbert Samuel - the first practicing Jew ever to sit in a British Cabinet - dreams of using British power to back a return of the Jews to Palestine after 1800 years. However, his cousin, Edwin Montagu - also in the Cabinet - is implacably opposed to the idea, a conflict complicated by Montagu's passion for the beautiful aristocrat, Venetia Stanley, a confidante of the Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith.Politics, religion and love collide with world-changing effect in this new play of political and sexual intrigue, and the origins of Israel.The Promise premiered at the Orange Tree Theatre in February 2010.

98 pages, Paperback

First published July 13, 2011

About the author

Ben Brown was born in Reading, England. He struggled through school academically. Diagnosed with dyslexia meant being removed from class to attend ‘remedial” lessons. Ben did not enjoy reading and writing, and left school early to work with his father as a builder. It wasn’t until his mid-twenties that Ben persisted in teaching himself to read — and finally read his first novel.

Ben emigrated to Perth, Western Australia in 1990 where he now lives with his wife Michelle and two teenage children, Chelsea and Zac.

He planned his first novel each day while working as a bricklayer, to pass the hours. His love of scientific facts, futuristic possibilities, and fast-paced action infects his plots and writing style.