A Man at Arms, (Hardcover)

Pressfield again marches into ancient history with a tale set in an underserved time and an overserved subject. Yet, the story describes the intricacies of intrigue, conflict, fear, and determination of an empire fighting a faith movement with what it knows - warfare. And a faith movement fighting an empire in what is revealed - love and belief. Our hero, Telemon of Arcadia, a solitary bellator, is conflicted within himself by his unaware conversion from his own internal code and revelation of faith presented by his companions. A would-be teen warrior, a wild mute girl and her proselyte guardian, and an avowed witch, stir in Telemon considerations he has comfortably avoided throughout his life. First tasked with tracking and recovering emissaries of the Apostle Paul carrying the Epistle to the Corinthians, Telemon holds true to his own beliefs but evolves to become the carrier of the message. From Jerusalem to the Sinai to Greece, the band is sought by Romans, Arabs, and Jews each with a reason to deny the message reaching the Christian community. As in his other novels, Pressfield ably portrays the landscape, culture and conflict of the time and area. Telamon passes on the way of the warrior to his companions and receives lessons in return. The characters are vivid and real, each garnering interest of the reader. While delivery of the Epistle is expected, method and acceptance form a tale of their own. A sequel is expected and anxiously anticipated!