AustLit

'Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a truly extraordinary woman. And after 2000 years, the story of her brave and remarkable life continues to inspire and enthrall us, as that young woman from Nazareth was never 'just a girl'.

'Who was Mary of Nazareth, the most famous woman in all of history?

'In 72 AD, as the Roman army pillages Judea and destroys their village, killing and enslaving its inhabitants, fourteen-year-old Judith hides with her younger sister, her great-grandmother Rabba and an unwilling goat in a storage cave used for storage.

'Judith is 'just a girl', but her skills will save them - and help escaped Roman slave Caius survive as well. Wolves - and humans - threaten them all during that long, icy winter, but there are feasts of stored, and scavenged food to enjoy as they listen to Rabba tell stories of her youth; of her wealthy marriage in Jerusalem and her life in Nazareth as a child.

'But there is one story Rabba will not tell, no matter how much they coax her. It is the story of Maryiam, her beloved friend who faced the scandal and shame of an unwed pregnancy and the anguish of seeing her son crucified.

'Yet the example of the woman Maryiam, who showed how pain and humiliation can become the most joyous story in the world, will give Judith and her younger sister and Caius the courage to step beyond their refuge. Because like Judith, 'Maryiam of Nazareth' was never 'just a girl'.

'Based on primary sources, this book tells the story of the Mary behind the legend, of her life and her extraordinary legacy, still an inspiration after 2000 years.' (Publication summary)