PILLAR OF FIRE

Nofret, an intelligent and forthright Hittite slave of an Egyptian princess, is at the center of this rich novel of life in ancient Egypt. The story fictionalizes the biblical scholar Ahmed Osman's theory of the origins of Moses and the Exodus story. Anna Fields's narration is consistently fresh, bringing immediacy to the novel's events, while at the same time creating personas for a large cast of characters who develop and grow as they gain age and experience. The many unfamiliar names, which could grow tedious to the reader, flow gracefully through the story, and Fields's portrayal of a main character's stammering sounds absolutely natural. This is a well-produced, intriguing story that makes the hours fly by. M.A.M. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 99]