Ruth, Mother of Kings

Taylor, who has dramatized the stories of other biblical women (Martha; Mary Magdalene; and Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate), fleshes out the lives of Ruth and her second husband Boaz, the great-grandparents of King David, in her latest novel. While the Bible presents Ruth with hardships, Taylor compounds the difficulties by adding disease, treachery, and betrayal to her circumstances. Ruth’s early story is alternated with an embellished account of Boaz’s life, which includes its share of tragedy and despair prior to meeting Ruth. While Taylor presents a detailed and dramatic tale, some Christian readers may have difficulty with the liberties she has taken with the lives of biblical characters. Most notably, she makes Ruth a Jewish woman, and not a Moabite, as has traditionally been thought. Apparently recognizing the possibility of disagreement with her characterization, Taylor justifies her position both through her storytelling and in the background information at the end of the book. Agent: Joyce Hart, Hartline Literary Agency. (Oct.)