The Wedding Shroud: A Tale of Ancient Rome

By Elisabeth Storrs

“All the drama and sensuality expected of an historical romance, plus a sensitivity to the realities of life in a very different time and world...” Ursula Le Guin
In 406 BC, to seal a tenuous truce, the young Roman Caecilia is wedded to Vel Mastarna, an Etruscan nobleman from the city of Veii. The fledgling Republic lies only twelve miles across the Tiber from its neighbor, but the cities are from opposing worlds so different are their customs and beliefs. Leaving behind a righteous Rome, Caecilia is determined to remain true to Roman virtues while living among the sinful Etruscans. Instead she finds herself tempted by a hedonistic culture which offers pleasure and independence to women as well as an ancient religion that gives her a chance to delay her destiny. Yet Mastarna and his people also hold dark secrets and, as war looms, Caecilia discovers that Fate is not so easy to control and that she must finally choose where her allegiance lies.
Exploring themes of sexuality, destiny versus self-determination, and tolerance versus prejudice, THE WEDDING SHROUD is historical fiction at its best which vividly brings Ancient Rome and Etruria to life while accenting the lives of women in ancient history. It is the first book in the TALES OF ANCIENT ROME series and was judged runner-up in the 2012 Sharp Writ Books Award for general fiction. It was also a finalist in the 2013 KINDLE BOOK REVIEW Best Indie Book Awards in literary fiction. The second book in the series, THE GOLDEN DICE, is now available.