Tamar - Hardcover

Chamberlin, Ann

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312856490 ISBN 13: 9780312856496

Publisher: Tor Books, 1994

Synopsis

Evoking the world of ancient Israel, an epic of love and war follows the adventures of Tamar, a proud woman and goddess-worshipping outcast, who becomes part of the harem of the great King David

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Reviews

Biblical history is brought vividly to life in Chamberlin's second novel (after The Virgin and the Tower ), a story of King David's court told from a woman's point of view. Tamar comes to Jerusalem as a child when her mother, Maacah, marries David. Maacah was a high priestess of the Great Goddess in the kingdom of Geshur, and Tamar, who possesses prophetic powers, was to be her successor; now they find themselves among people who worship one God and forbid the rituals of their old faith. Tamar continues to practice the rites demanded of her by the Goddess, whose loving and generous spirit is a far cry from the masculine and avenging God of Jerusalem. She also writes beautiful hymns of praise that Chamberlin suggests may well be the psalms now attributed to David. Maacah gives birth to Absalom, whom Tamar foresees will pose a threat to David's kingdom, but his parents adore the boy, and his half-sister can do nothing to prevent the tragedies she knows will befall them. Chamberlin's alternate version of the familiar Old Testament tale is thought-provoking and engrossing. The characters--historical and fictional alike--are believable, as are descriptions of everyday life in biblical times.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Chamberlin imaginatively re-creates the politics of King David's empire, life in an ancient harem, and the private lives of nobles of the Judahite court. The author presents a fictional autobiography of the king's stepdaughter, princess of Judah and Geshur and highpriestess of the goddess. The thrust of the novel is the religious conflict between the patriarchal faith of Judah and the goddess cult of many of the peoples David conquered. It is in character for Tamar to be a feminist of sorts--supporting goddess against god and the mysteries of women against men. Readers, however, may feel that her strong feminism reflects preoccupations of our own times rather than of David's reign. Others may be upset that this novel is not true to a literal reading of the Bible. These are minor complaints, however; this well-researched, interesting, and often exciting novel is recommended for general fiction collections. -- James F. DeRoche, Alexandria, Va.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Chamberlin fictionalizes the decline of goddess worship during David of Judea's reign in this meticulously researched, well-crafted novel. In it, the child Tamar and her mother, the high priestess Maacah, are brought to David's harem during his wars of conquest. Strangers in a strange land, both must confront David's god, which he forces on the conquered, and David's calculated political ambitions. Against this backdrop of political, military, sociological, and theological upheaval, Chamberlin brings to life the drama of the diminution of earth-based goddess worship before a punitive male god that forbids any other deity. The tale of passion, loss, and fated retribution includes several wonderful elements, as when Tamar's half-brother Absalom is saved by a disguised David from fiery sacrifice at birth only to be reclaimed by the goddess 26 years later, and piquant details, as when the stern seer Zipporah recalls the sacrificial goat she'd roasted for what turned out to be Saul's last meal: "It was well flavored as I recall. Plenty of garlic." For collections strong in women's issues and spirituality. Whitney Scott

Edition details

• Publisher: Tor Books
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0312856490
• ISBN 13: 9780312856496
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 463