Joan started writing
the book in 2002, presenting it at first as a mix of non-fiction and
fiction, but this proved not to be a satisfactory formula, and now it is
published as the true and unfabricated story of Timberlake's quest to see
the Holy City of Jerusalem. The audience at the book launch heard how extraordinarily dangerous
it was to travel anywhere in 1601, and how slim your chances of survival
were if you ventured outside your own country – travellers in those days
risked life and limb, even if they popped their noses out of their own
doors, it seems. Timberlake,
when in peril of his life on his overland
journey to the Holy Land, was saved not
once, but twice, by a Moor on his way to Mecca. Had it not been for
the Muslim who helped him, Henry Timberlake would not have survived and returned to
England. He wrote a letter for his
friends about his extraordinary journey, and it is a quirk of history that
it has not been lost. Joan's reading from her book, about a naval battle in
quite lurid detail, was enthusiastically received.
To hear about Joan Taylor's own
background makes pretty interesting listening, too.
Of British-Danish parentage, Joan is a New Zealander who has worked
on a kibbutz in Israel
and who has spent a sojourn in Arab East Jerusalem -– experiences which
impressed and inspired her and gave her an abiding interest in the life
and history of the Middle East. She came with her husband
Paul -– an academic and human rights worker -- and their children to
Wivenhoe in 2000. She has
written articles and books on ancient religion (particularly early Judaism
and Christianity) and archaeology, and has talked about these topics on
television and on radio. She
has published fiction too -– many in the audience on that November
evening will also have been at her book launch of Conversations
with Mr Prain earlier in the year.
And she writes poetry as well...
Note: This article was first published in the Spring Edition of Wivenhoe News. |
