The Jewel Trader of Pegu: A Novel (P.S.)

Title from PDF title page (viewed on Jan. 14, 2008). A melancholy young Jewish gem merchant, Abraham, born in Venice, has lived his life behind the ghetto walls of that damp, oppressive city. He has lost a wife and the son whose difficult birth killed her. Now there is nothing left for him there.In the autumn of 1598, Abraham chooses to seek his fortune far from the painful familiarity of Europe and travels halfway across the world to the lush and exotic Burmese kingdom of Pegu. An overpoweringly strange melange of sodden heat, colorful customs, and odd superstitions, it is a place and a people completely alien to him. Yet in Pegu, the jewel trader is not hated or shunned for his faith. Here Abraham is a man. Here he is free.But there is a price for his newfound freedom. Local custom demands that foreigners perform a duty Abraham finds both troubling and barbaric. While it is a responsibility many men would embrace eagerly, it mocks Abraham's moral beliefs and fills him with dread and despair...until Mya arrives to briefly share his bed.Barely more than a girl, she awakens something within him far more profound—and more pleasurable—than the guilt he anticipated. And when tragedy destroys the future that was planned for her, Abraham takes Mya in, offering her his home, his protection, and, unexpectedly, his love. But great social and political upheaval threatens to violently transform the entire Peguan empire—and the actions of the powerful will force fateful choices that could have devastating consequences for Abraham and Mya and their dreams for the future.

in The Autumn Of 1598, Abraham, A Melancholy Young Jewish Gem Merchant, Seeks His Fortune Far From The Imprisoning Ghetto Walls Of Venice. Traveling Halfway Across The World, He Lands In The Lush And Exotic Burmese Kingdom Of Pegu—an Alien Place, Yet One Where The Jewel Trader Is Not Shunned For His Faith. There Is A Price For His Newfound Freedom, However. Local Custom Demands That Abraham Perform A Duty He Finds Troubling And Barbaric . . . And Thus Mya, Barely More Than A Girl, Arrives To Share His Bed. Gently Banishing His Despair, Awakening Something Profound Within Him, Mya Ultimately Accepts Abraham's Protection And, Unexpectedly, His Love. But Great Social And Political Upheaval Threatens To Violently Transform The Peguan Empire—with Devastating Consequences For Abraham And Mya And Their Dreams For The Future.

booklist

“[readers] Will Be Swept Away By Hantover’s Lavish Descriptions Of An Exotic, Lost Asian Kingdom; The Gentle Love Story; And The Tale Of One Man’s Thoughtful Journey To His Heart’s Home.”

Title Page......Page 3 Dedication Page......Page 4 Epigraph Page......Page 5 Map......Page 8 Contents......Page 7 Prologue......Page 13 Begin Reading.........Page 15 Epilogue......Page 235 Acknowledgments......Page 238 About the Author......Page 239 Credits......Page 240 Copyright Notince......Page 241 About the Publisher......Page 242 Leaving behind a safe existence for the promises of a lush Burmese kingdom, sixteenth century Jewish jewel trader Abraham learns that he is expected to participate in a native sexual ritual in order for his business to succeed, a requirement that tests his moral beliefs