Crossroads of Empire

by Michael J Cooper

Overview

Winner of the 2024 CIBA Hemingway First Place Prize for 20th Century Wartime Historical Fiction

2024 SF Writers Conference Writing Contest Finalist-Adult Fiction

". . . both a gripping page turner and a series of carefully observed character studies. Beautifully written in a voice and in details that capture the era, Crossroads of Empire is a must-read for readers of all ages" -Chanticleer Book Reviews

The story of Evan Sinclair that began in Wages of Empire continues in Crossroads of Empire. Having survived German artillery, poison gas, and friendly fire in helping to turn the tide of the war in its first months, Evan barely survives his hospital ship's sinking by a German U-boat. Left with amnesia, he no longer remembers who he is.

Likewise, Evan doesn't recall that, despite the European war, the true source of conflict is in Ottoman Palestine, since it's from Jerusalem's Temple Mount that Kaiser Wilhelm II dreams to rule as Holy Roman Emperor over Arabian oil reserves and the Suez Canal.

The Middle East Front soon explodes with pitched battles at Suez and Gallipoli as Evan's story is interwoven with those of historical figures Gertrude Bell, T. E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill, Faisal bin Hussein, and Chaim Weizmann.

During his quest to recover his memory Evan will discover far more: love for his father, grief for his late mother, and hidden secrets of his bloodline-an unbroken lineage that stretches back to the Crusades and will determine his future role in the Great War.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798888245149
Publisher:	Koehler Books
Publication date:	11/19/2024
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Michael J. Cooper emigrated to Israel in 1966 and lived in Jerusalem during the last year the city was divided between Israel and Jordan. He graduated from Tel Aviv University Medical School, and after a forty-year career as a pediatric cardiologist in Northern California, he continues to do volunteer missions serving Palestinian children who lack access to care. Wages of Empire won the 2022 CIBA Rossetti Award for YA fiction, along with first-place honors for the 2022 CIBA Hemingway Award for wartime historical fiction. His other historical fiction novels include Foxes in the Vineyard, set in 1948 Jerusalem, which won the 2011 Indie Publishing Contest grand prize, and The Rabbi's Knight, set in the Holy Land in 1290. He lives in Northern California with his wife and a spoiled-rotten cat. His three adult children occasionally drop by.

Editorial Reviews

2024-10-19
In Cooper’s historical novel, a British teenager suffers amnesia after fighting in the Flemish Resistance in 1914 Paris.

Evan Sinclair is only 16 years old, but he has already lived an extravagantly dramatic life—he’s fought with the Flemish Resistance in Paris, was wounded by a gunshot, and has been recommended for the Victoria Cross for his bravery. When theAustrium, a hospital ship conveying him back to England, is sunk by a German U-boat, Evan washes ashore at Lyme Regis. As a result of physical injury and mental strain, he loses the whole of his memory, a condition that persists after his wounds heal, leaving him unsettled; his predicament is affectingly portrayed by the author: “And that empty darkness scares me more with each passing day.” With the help of his cousin Harry, who finds Evan after recognizing him in a picture, he begins to study his family genealogy, which can be traced back to the First Crusade in the 11th century—his ancestor, Henri de St. Clair, was among the original Knights Templar. Cooper presents a fascinatingly unorthodox, if ultimately unconvincing, interpretation of World War I in which its principal cause is Kaiser Wilhelm’s desire to take over Jerusalem, crown himself as its king and as Holy Roman emperor, and usher in a new age of German pagan rule. Unfortunately, this interpretation takes the plot on a derivative and ludicrous tour of supernatural conceits, including immortality and mysterious “energy pathways” that connect the great monuments of the world in some geometrical pattern. What begins as a captivating historical chronicle fused with a personal drama—Evan’s quest to rediscover himself is the emotional core of the novel—devolves into fantastical tale that is neither plausible nor fresh.

A historical novel that loses its way when it transitions to a supernaturally charged adventure story.

Kirkus Reviews

11/11/2024

Cooper follows up Wages of Empire with this deep dive into the personal and political consequences of the First World War. Soldier Evan Sinclair—now grappling with amnesia after his ship heading for home was sunk by the Germans—remains at the heart of the novel, as does his father, Captain Clive Sinclair, whose relentless quest to find his son mirrors the larger search for meaning amidst the chaos of war. As Evan embarks on a journey to rediscover his past, Cooper expertly shifts between the war-torn battlefields of France, Jerusalem’s political intrigues, and the shifting alliances in the Arabian desert.

The novel's strength lies in its intricate, real-life characters and their interwoven stories, offering a fresh perspective on World War I’s lesser-known figures and events. Montagu Walker's sabotage of British efforts in the Middle East positions him as a rival to Faisal ibn Al-Hussein, who seeks British support for Arab independence; in Jerusalem, Anna Spafford shelters fugitives while Guido von List, a cunning envoy of Kaiser Wilhelm, hunts secrets within the American Colony. Clive’s search for Evan leads him to cross paths with the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, while Evan journeys from Lyme Regis to Rosslyn Castle, where his cousin Harry unveils the rich history of the Sinclair family.

Cooper’s meticulous research breathes life into pivotal historical moments, though the weight of detail occasionally overshadows the personal narratives at the story's core. Yet, it is this interplay of grand events and intimate character arcs that makes Crossroads of Empire compelling. The story culminates in a spiritual reckoning, as Evan regains his memories with help from his ancestor, Sir William Wallace, connecting his personal journey to the enduring legacy of fighting for freedom. Crossroads of Empire offers a richly layered narrative that sheds light on the human toll of conflict and celebrates an indomitable spirit of resilience amid overwhelming adversity.

Takeaway: Rich historical tapestry of self-discovery during the First World War.

Comparable Titles: Richard Aldington’s Death of a Hero, Willa Cather’s One of Ours.

Production grades Cover: A Design and typography: A Illustrations: N/A Editing: A- Marketing copy: A

BookLife Reviews