Moses and the Great Cataclysm

Sheila Martindale is poetry editor of Canadian Author and Bookman and
author of No Greater Love.

All ancient cultures and religions seem to have recorded an account of a
huge natural disaster, whether earthquakes, erupting volcanoes, strange
atmospheric pressures, or massive tidal waves. Set in 1450 BC (the time
of the great Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt), this highly readable
novel incorporates into its fabric the plagues that were visited on the
Egyptians, the parting of the waters of the Red Sea, and the pillar of
fire that acted as a sign for the migrating population. Biblical
characters—especially that of Moses—are brought into sharp focus.

The book is well researched, and reading it helps one to understand the
Jewish faith a little better. The strict rules that Moses imposed on his
people in the name of Yahweh were based on the need to survive under
difficult conditions; for example, the Hebrews did not fall prey to
sexually transmitted diseases (as did other nations at the time) because
inflexible codes of behavior were enforced.

Marring this interesting and engaging book is the author’s tendency
to refer to events outside the period; while presumably intended to
provide a broad historical context for the novel, these asides are
distracting. The text also contains a number of annoying typographical
errors, grammatical mistakes, and misuse of words. These quibbles should
not, however, discourage anyone from reading the book, either for
pleasure or enlightenment.