Introduced by Donald Smith. Set in Rome during Nero’s reign of terror, The Blood of the Martyrs is a disciplined historical novel tracing the destruction of one cell of the early church. With a cast of slaves, ordinary Roman people, exiles and entertainers, it is thorough in its historical interpretation and in its determination to make the past accessible and readable. Written in 1938-9, the novel contains many symbolic parallels to the rise of European fascism in the 1930s and the desperate plight of persecuted minorities such as the Jews and the left-wing activists with whom Naomi Mitchison personally campaigned at the time. With the invasion of Britain a real possibility, she felt compelled to write a testament to the power of human solidarity which, even faced with death, can overcome the worst that human evil can achieve. The Blood of the Martyrs is the least autobiographical of Mitchison’s major works of fiction, yet, with its implicit credo, is her most passionately self-revealing. ‘ . . . when a novelist is historically faithful in these treacherous waters of the human psyche, the results are tremendous. As a twentieth-century woman, it no doubt hurt Naomi Mitchison a good deal to describe the savagery of the early Christian persecution in The Blood of the Martyrs . . . But it is the pain that gives the history its lifeblood. The imagination that is a novelist’s fuel must be harnessed to serve history as history was, not as anyone wishes it had been.’ Joanna Trollope

The thrilling continuation of the YALSA award-winning comic by BRANDON DAYTON. In a mythical Russia, a mysterious young boy is raised by an order of monks. As he grows to manhood, bizarre dreams and the call of destiny disturb the ideals of brotherhood and peace that define his idyllic home.

In China's Book of Martyrs, the first of the Fire amp; Blood series, Paul Hattaway charts the story of the Christian church in China from the earliest beginnings to present day. This comprehensive first volume tells the stories of those who have died for their faith in Christ in China, from all creeds or denominations and nationalities, including indigenous Chinese believers. Its features are: 1. History of the Christian church in China listed province by province from AD 845 to the present. 2. All denominations and creeds included. 3. All known martyrs included around 1000 named individuals or groups 501 profiles. 4. Includes over 2000 footnotes and source references, an extensive bibliography and indexes that list martyrs per country of origin and province in China where they were martyred. 5. Contains more than 500 black and white photos or drawings All those interested in the church movement, especially within China, will find this resource invaluable to their studies.

The man who expected to be shot lay with his eyes open, staring at the upper left-hand corner of his cell. He was fairly well over his last beating, and they might come for him any time now. There was a yellow stain in the cell corner near the ceiling; he had liked it at first, then disliked it; now he was coming back to liking it again. He could see it more clearly with his glasses on, but he only put on his glasses for special occasions now-the first thing in the morning, and when they brought the food in, and for interviews with the General. The lenses of the glasses had been cracked in a beating some months before, and it strained his eyes to wear them too long. Fortunately, in his present life he had very few occasions demanding clear vision. But, nevertheless, the accident to his glasses worried him, as it worries all near-sighted people. You put your glasses on the first thing in the morning and the world leaps into proportion; if it does not do so, something is wrong with the world.

This book puts two groups on trail: (1) pre-First Amendment Christian Revisionists for murder and conspiracy to commit murder; (2) post-First Amendment Christian Revisionists for conspiracy to commit murder. The reliable and overwhelming evidence presented proves: The theology of the accused The motives of the accused The goals of the accused The consequences when the accused succeed in their goals The true Christian history of the First Amendment The guilt of the accused Justice requires that you, the readers and jurors, render a true and correct verdict.

The Blood of Martyrs takes the reader on an exciting journey through the trials and tribulations of church history. In a postmodern age it is easy to forget the lessons of history, yet can we afford to when our faith is only a generation away from extinction? As you travel through the first four centuries of the church with the saints and sinners who carried the gospel to all the world, be encouraged and strengthened. The books in this series are written in a lively and engaging style that is perfect not only for teens and adults but also for family reading.