It is 1362 in the Swiss town of Solodurum. Young Benedictus Waisel breaks with family tradition, unwilling to follow in his father’s footsteps as a stone mason. His grandfather has taught him to read, a rare skill in 14th century Solodurum, and Ben wants to become a scrivener. However, lacking money for the fees, he cannot pay for a proper training. In desperation, Ben joins the city Guard, but is soon severely wounded in battle, leaving him only fit for standing on the tower. When a pestilence strikes Solodurum, he struggles with religious intolerance as the local Jewish community is accused of creating the illness. Ben’s fortunes turn when he is enlisted by a council member as a spy, due to his ability to read. He uncovers a conspiracy to violently overthrow the city, but before he can act on what he has learned, he is imprisoned for the murder of the very council member who had engaged him to spy. His one hope for saving himself and the city lies in Connie, a homeless man who is privy to secrets he has no reason to know.
Eleven is a story of historical fiction. Solodurum is modern day Solothurn, which from Benedict’s time to now has a superstitious fetish around the number eleven. Eleven would make an ideal class reader in the middle school curriculum. It is a coming-of-age novel that touches on issues of self-determination, independence vs conformity, following family tradition, military comradeship, persevering through adversity, religious intolerance, mysticism, and epidemics, to mention just a few.
Eleven is available from this website, donaldsamsonbooks.com, as well as from Amazon and Ingram. If you wish to order bulk, contact me directly at [email protected]. Free shipping on all bulk orders.
Donald Samson has been engaged as a teacher and mentor in both private and public Waldorf schools for the past 35 years. His love of storytelling and the encouragement of his students led him to writing novels for school-age children (and their parents).
Eleven is a story of historical fiction. Solodurum is modern day Solothurn, which from Benedict’s time to now has a superstitious fetish around the number eleven. Eleven would make an ideal class reader in the middle school curriculum. It is a coming-of-age novel that touches on issues of self-determination, independence vs conformity, following family tradition, military comradeship, persevering through adversity, religious intolerance, mysticism, and epidemics, to mention just a few.
Eleven is available from this website, donaldsamsonbooks.com, as well as from Amazon and Ingram. If you wish to order bulk, contact me directly at [email protected]. Free shipping on all bulk orders.
Donald Samson has been engaged as a teacher and mentor in both private and public Waldorf schools for the past 35 years. His love of storytelling and the encouragement of his students led him to writing novels for school-age children (and their parents).
