Tamrin: Merchant of Aksum: A Historical Novel, (Paperback)

Tamrin, a resident of the ancient port city of Aksum, was tall and lean, with restless eyes that examined all those around him. He was a man who used words and persuasion before he used the sword, but if he drew his weapon, it tasted blood. Though illiterate, Tamrin had a fantastic mind for details, money transactions, ship's cargoes, and the faces of all he met. He was a man who recognized that silence and listening paid benefits that oratory seldom did. He respected the authority of the queen, yet held himself with pride. Menelik, son of the Queen of Sheba and fathered by Solomon, as a youth became Tamrin's charge. Menelik was to accompany Tamrin as a deck hand and not reveal his royal identity during their travels, but he told his secret to another sailor, which changed the nature of his apprenticeship and his life. Menelik, a quick learner, was faithful to Tamrin. Being shielded in a royal palace did not prepare him for the hardships and cruelties of a merchant sailor's life. He finally admitted his error, regaining the respect of the crew and his mother, the queen.

About the Author: Born in Chicago, Harold M. Bergsma spent his early years in Ethiopia and India, where his father was a medical missionary. He studied linguistics and was a university professor and administrator for thirty years. The author has lived and worked in Africa and India. His first wife was born in India and his second is Chinese. "I am in many ways like Tamrin, of many origins, and many cultural backgrounds. Home is truly where the heart is." This is his tenth book.