Avishag

The biblical story of King David's famous concubine is reimagined in Avishag, by novelist and translator Yael Lotan (The Other I). Lotan's plot sticks close to the Bible's account: Avishag the Shunammite is a beautiful young girl brought to the palace to revive the listless, dying king. Though their relationship is never consummated, she becomes his loyal attendant, and then, after his death, a pawn in the succession battle between David's sons Solomon and Adoniyah. Full of palace intrigue, Lotan's story goes far in bringing out the inner life of this pivotal character over whom much blood was shed.