Selene of Alexandria: A Novel of Late Antinquity

10th Anniversary Edition

She yearns to be a healer. When an ambitious bishop accuses her of witchcraft, can she survive his dark plot?

Alexandria, AD 412. Selene longs to defy tradition. Haunted by memories of her mother and infant brother’s deaths from a fever, the tenacious fourteen-year-old dreams of becoming a skilled physician. So she dons a daring disguise to seek out the patronage of the influential pagan philosopher, Hypatia. 

Elated when her risky gambit pays off, Selene’s eager pursuit of wisdom is made rocky by jealous male rivals and rioting Christians, Jews, and Egyptians. And as the unrest in the streets rises to festering new heights, the once-naïve student quickly realizes she’s being targeted by her mentor’s close-minded enemies. 

Will her tenderhearted efforts to save others leave her defenseless against their deadly accusations? 

In this gritty and vivid novel, award-winning author Faith L. Justice spins an insightful tale anchored by the influential life of one of history’s first female philosopher-mathematicians. And after gazing at the often-brutal culture of her time through the lens of an ordinary family's choices, you’ll emerge with a newfound understanding of this era of vast religious, social, and political change. 

Selene of Alexandria is a meticulously researched work of historical fiction. If you like fast-paced action, well-crafted dialogue, and complex themes, then you’ll adore Faith L. Justice’s illuminating view into antiquity.