Set in Egypt during the twilight of the Roman Empire, Alexandria is the story of Peter Valerius Proba, a soldier turned scholar who risks everything to save the legacy of the civilization he swore to destroy.

Banished to a desert monastery for his role in the assassination of the philosopher Hypatia, he does not deny his guilt; why should he refuse credit for dispatching a witch? An imperial investigator suspects Peter is not the murderous fanatic he claims to be, however. Gambling that the investigator might be enlisted to his cause, Peter confesses his real crime: leading a conspiracy to save the books of the Great Library from a fanatic's torch.

From the besieged gates of Rome to the bloodstained steps of an ancient temple, Alexandria is a journey through a world torn between reason and fanaticism in a pivotal age not unlike our own.

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“There is a place where books are stored. Most are unrevised and must be destroyed. The Lady Pulcheria requires an inventory so she can make an informed decision.”

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