A man travels to Israel to uncover a diamond's remarkable past in this
vivid historical saga from the New York Times best-selling author of
The Physician.
A diamond cutter and seller from a long, respected line of precious-gem
dealers, New Yorker Harry Hopeman is intrigued by the story of the
so-called "Jerusalem Diamond", a magnificent yellow jewel rumored to
date back to the biblical time of King Solomon. So when he's asked to
broker a deal that will return the legendary gemstone to Israel, he
eagerly accepts.
Arriving in the volatile Middle East, Hopeman soon discovers that his
assignment will be anything but easy. Representatives of the Holy Land's
three major religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - are all
laying claim to the priceless jewel that once adorned the miter of Pope
Gregory, and they will do anything to possess it.
Partnering with Israeli government agent Tamar Strauss - a beautiful and
courageous Yemenite war widow who inspires the visiting American's
passion as well as his respect - Hopeman is soon entangled in a web of
mystery and intrigue that crosses continents and stretches back
thousands of years. As the duo follows the twisting travels of the gem
and the bloody conflicts it has ignited throughout its extraordinary
past - a history that intertwines with Hopeman's own family saga - the
story of a breathtaking land and its people unfolds in all its drama and
glory.
International best-selling author Noah Gordon - whose acclaimed
historical novel The Physician was the inspiration for the major
motion picture of the same name starring Ben Kingsley - "has packed a
suspense tale with religious, historical and archeological
underpinnings, along with fascinating insights into an industry whose
conduct is generally shrouded from outside scrutiny" (The Philadelphia
Inquirer).
