Jem Duducu

And God Watched Jem Duducu

The year is 1291, the place is the Middle East. Acre, the last Christian city held by the West is awash with trade and political intrigue. Powerful interests beyond the horizon greedily eye this prize as it simmers in the tensions of opposing interests. Meanwhile, just outside Acre's walls, a seemingly unstoppable empire slowly encircles the city, hoping to topple the Christian stronghold once and for all. In the midst of this maelstrom of power and religious fervour stands a lone woman. Maria d'Acre is a trader by nature and a voice of reason at heart, a woman married to the work that fills a hole left by the unobtainable love of her life. As she tries to reign in the excesses of the powerful men around her, she faces opposition and danger at every turn. Will common sense prevail or will the worst excesses spill out onto the streets of this mighty citadel? And as people of all faiths pray for deliverance, why is there no answer from the Almighty? As well as telling Maria's personal story, And God Watched brings to life the complex history behind the fall of Acre. The cosmopolitan atmosphere of this great medieval city sets the stage for the bloody clashes where both attackers and defenders believe that God is on their side.