David

A biographical novel of the biblical King David. It follows the Bible very closely, but imagines the motivations the Bible only hints at.

Few stories have had such an effect on the world. The lonely shepherd boy, singing his songs in the wilderness to his one intimate friend, God, said what no one before had even dared to contemplate: "I" . In using the first person in "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," he formed a personal relationship with God. From that moment on the world was changed.

David composed psalms, or songs, had wives and loves, led his army in mighty battles, dispensed justice, and was politically cunning. He saw the development of democracy and the ideal of decency and forged a kingdom of lasting influence. He was followed as king by his son Solomon, and generations later, it is said, by Jesus, the Christ.

The young shepherd boy's, then the king's, thoughts and actions continue to reverberate now, 3000 years later. The story's issues are immediate and current.