Claudia ~ Wife of Pontius Pilate by Diana Wallis Taylor

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Revell (June 15, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800721381
• ISBN-13: 978-0800721381

This book is also available as an ebook.

Release date: June 15, 2013

Claudia's life did not start easily. The illegitimate daughter of Julia, reviled and exiled daughter of Caesar Augustus, Claudia spends her childhood in a guarded villa with her mother and grandmother. When Tiberius, who hates Julia, takes the throne, Claudia is wrenched away from her mother to be brought up in the palace in Rome. The young woman is adrift--until she meets Lucius Pontius Pilate and becomes his wife. When Pilate is appointed Prefect of the troublesome territory of Judea, Claudia does what she has always done: she makes the best of it. But unrest is brewing on the outskirts of the Roman Empire, and Claudia will soon find herself and her beloved husband embroiled in controversy and rebellion. Might she find peace and rest in the teaching of the mysterious Jewish Rabbi everyone seems to be talking about?

Readers will be whisked through marbled palaces, dusty marketplaces, and idyllic Italian villas as they follow the unlikely path of a woman who warrants only a passing mention in one of the Gospel accounts. Diana Wallis Taylor combines her impeccable research with her flair for drama and romance to craft a tale worthy of legend.

My take on this book:

I have become a fan of Biblical historical fiction and "Claudia" is the story of a character in the Bible that is only mentioned once, but Diana Wallis Taylor doesn't let that stop her from creating a compelling story that not only brings the characters but Biblical times to life, a time when woman really had to make the best of the situations that they found themselves in.At the age of sixteen Claudia is married to Pontius Pilate , and truly loves her husband even though it was an arranged marriage.After the marriage they move to Judea where Claudia has a dream about Jesus and the role her husband will play in his crucifixion.The author certianly knew how to bring this timeperiod to life, I could just imagine the places that was described in the story. I also recognized a few Biblical characters woven into the story along with Claudia and her husband. It was nice to see a different side of Pontius Pilate, a side that only his wife Claudia saw.Even though a fictionalized story, the author makes the story believable by providing enough facts to give a sense of realism. Overall fans of historical fiction will enjoy this story, but if you enjoy historical fiction with a Biblical slant then this is a must read for you. 

A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.

Available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.