House of Nevisanus

9781883697891

1883697891

In a great stone mansion sitting atop a hill far from the bustling streets of Athens, a baby girl comes into the world, the daughter of highborn parents. Her father greets her birth by consulting the stars and charting her celestial course; her mother awaits his prophesy, fearful that this baby may suffer the same tragic fate of her first child.So begins the fascinating story of Tasia, descendant of the House of Nevisanus, who is born into the Golden Age of Greece and privileged circumstances. As the daughter of the High Archon, she is given every possible advantage. She resides in a vast and luxurious home surrounded by carefully tended gardens; a host of servants take care of her every need; private tutors oversee her education in academics and social graces; and her extensive wardrobe consists only of the finest garments. However, as desirable as her existence may seem, she is in reality a prisoner of a life that has been carefully configured for her: an early marriage to a man of her father's choosing, and a future as a wife and mother, but nothing beyond.Jacqueline Heath Hume has penned an extraordinary tale about a young girl's coming of age in this most fertile time in Western civilization. Her prose is reminiscent of those great works of classical literature, rich in detailed description and replete with the language and expressions of the times. The plot cleverly weaves together the stories of several different characters, among them a cruel merchant, an ill-fated handmaid, a mysterious crone, a gifted athlete; and, of course, Tasia herself. The marketplace of Athens and the staging of the First Olympiad provide a colorful and dramatic backdrop to this intriguing andwell-written novel.The House of Nevisanus, gives readers a tantalizing taste of true lif