Queenmaker: A Novel of King David's Queen
Page 36
The prophet Nathan walked before them; Nathan was very old now, and very fat, and leaned heavily on his staff. But he walked proudly. He was Yahweh’s prophet, and today all men would see that King Solomon gave him due honor and reverence.
The streets were clean-swept; the watchers quiet, as if they feared to raise their voices even in praise on such a holy occasion.
“Oh, Michal—do you remember the last time the Ark was borne through the streets?” Bathsheba smiled, then sighed. “How different it was, and how long ago.”
“Yes.” That had been a joyous day, not a solemn one. The people had sung and danced along Jerusalem’s streets, and thrown flowers down before the Ark. The sun had beat down hard that day, hard and golden as King David danced naked before them all. And I had watched his skin shining oil-slick in the sun, and wished so hard that Yahweh might strike him dead that my heart hurt with it. And later David had come to me, and there had been another dance, but there had been no watchers then … .
“Yes,” I said again. “It was different, and it was long ago. King David danced.”
“I know. They still talked about it at the well when I first came to Jerusalem. I always wished I had seen that. I never saw the king dance.” Bathsheba’s voice was wistful, but still she smiled at me; those days held only sweet memories for her. “The people loved him so.”
“Yes.” I turned to our boy; our king. “But they love King Solomon more.”
“Yes, love is the greatest gift.” Bathsheba sighed again; all content.
I thought of David, and of how he had thrown that gift away with both hands. “Love, and the wisdom to know it, Bathsheba.”
Solomon regarded us seriously, as if such idle women’s words were of great import to him. “It is not possible to love and be wise both—or so I have heard.” His words were all solemn, like a king’s; his eyes were all mischief, like a boy’s. “If you could have but one, which would you choose?”
“Oh, love,” Bathsheba said at once, and kissed her son upon the cheek. “What is wisdom, compared to that?”
“And you, O Queen?” Solomon smiled at me in the way that made my heart melt.
I thought of all I had and knew of both love and wisdom. I owned both, now. But if I could choose only one, which? Wisdom? Ah, yes, wisdom would have spared me much pain—and cheated me, in the end, of much joy.
I smiled upon Solomon and Bathsheba. “Love, O son of my heart. Oh, yes—love.”
The Ark passed just below us; the noonday sun burnished its gold and made it flame.
“Look!” said Bathsheba. “See how the sun makes the Ark glow—like fire!”
We each put an arm around Solomon and watched as the Ark was carried slowly past the palace, up the hill toward the temple Solomon had built. I reached across Solomon to clasp Bathsheba’s hand; we encircled our son with loving arms. Yes, love was better than wisdom, if that were the choice. But I knew, at last, that there was no choice, for a woman—or for a man, either, if he would be happy.
It was a simple secret, hard-learned.
To love is to be wise.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author wishes to thank those who read Queenmaker in its various incarnations and provided invaluable comments and criticism: James Allen, eluki bes shahar, Anne Bushyhead, Jane Butler, Sue Krinard, James Macdonald, Myra Morales, Susan Poirier, Niloufer Reifler, Dora Schisler, Bonnie Wenk Stallone, Muriel Verdibello, Gloria Edghill Wenk, and a very special thanks to Judy York, artist extraordinaire.
The book you now hold in your hands has been many things: a labor of love, to show my father his faith in my writing ability was not misplaced; an attempt to give a voice to a biblical woman long condemned to silence; a proof to my mother that she didn’t waste her money when she bought me that new computer; a self-published novel; a St. Martin’s hardcover. And now it’s a trade paperback! Sometimes Queenmaker seems to have as many lives as a cat —a very fortunate cat with a great many friends helping her along her way. This latest incarnation provides me an opportunity to thank Queenmaker’s new friends—the ones whose efforts made the book’s current life such a thrill to share.
So here I’d like to thank Anna Ghosh, my very special agent, and Russ Galen, who both are not only great agents but great people, always willing to share knowledge and to advise and help. And Danny Baror, my wonderful foreign rights agent, who added a great many foreign languages to Queenmaker’s repertoire.
At St. Martin’s, there’s Matthew Baldacci and his great marketing team, who made sure everyone knew about Queenmaker. And there’s Nichole Argyres, the world’s greatest editorial assistant, who fixes problems I didn’t even know I had.
And then—of course—there’s the queen of Queenmaker’s friends, my amazing and supportive editor, Diane Higgins. No writer could ask for a better editor; to have her guiding my book into its future is an author’s dream come true.
So thank you Anna, Danny, Diane, Matthew, Nichole, and Russ, for bringing Queenmaker so far and doing so much for the book and for me. I can’t wait to see where Queenmaker goes next!
—India
reading group guide
Picador
Discussion
1. Michal tells her story in the first person. What does the story gain by being told only through Michal’s eyes? How would Queenmaker be different if it were told from another person’s point of view or in the third person?
2. What are Michal’s goals, and how does she achieve them? How and why do they change during the course of her life?
3. Although there are many men in Michal’s life, eventually she learns that her relationships with other women are most important to her. How does Michal come to realize this? How do her bonds with other women help her? How do they hinder her?
4. The Philistine concubine Zhurleen embodies the traditional feminine path to power. What does Michal learn from her? How would the course of Michal’s life have changed if she had followed Zhurleen’s advice?
5. Bathsheba is used as a weapon by both David and Michal. Who do you think wins the struggle over Bathsheba? How does this affect Bathsheba’s life?
6. Although she has no son of her own, Michal uses her power to train the next king. What does her raising of Solomon show about her knowledge of and use of power?
7. How does Michal’s relationship with Abishag show the changes in Michal since she was a girl? How does it show the changes from King Saul’s day in the way kings and courts are regarded?
8. Although Michal never likes David’s general, Joab, she comes to an uneasy truce with him. How are Michal and Joab’s goals similar? How are they different?
9. Michal learns about kingship and power from many people, including King Saul, Phaltiel, Nathan, and Zhurleen, as well as from David himself. How does what she learns differ in each case? How is it the same? What decisions does she make that lead to her becoming a true queen?
10. Spinning and weaving are used as motifs throughout the book. How do these traditionally female tasks mirror women’s lives?
11. In the end, Michal thinks she has chosen love over wisdom and power. Is she right?
What to Read Next
For additional reading group guide visit www.picadorusa.com
QUEENMAKER. Copyright © 1999, 2003 by India Edghill. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address Picador, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y 10010.
www.picadorusa.com
Picador® is a U.S. registered trademark and is used by St. Martin’s Press under license from Pan Books Limited.
eISBN 9781466821361
First eBook Edition : June 2012
For information on Picador Reading Group Guides, as well as ordering, please contact the Trade Marketing department at St. Martin’s Press.
Phone: 1-800-221-7945 extension 763
Fax
: 212-677-7456
E-mail: trademarketing@stmartins.com
First published in the United States by Talitho Press, Xlibris
First Picador Edition: January 2003