Michael Reuben Goldman
AN EPIC JOURNEY OF EXILE, DESTINY, AND THE JEWISH IMAGINATION.
Before the Exile was Forever…
In 9th Century Baghdad, the Heirs of the House of David still reigned in splendor as Exilarchs - Princes of the Captivity - kings in all but name.
Exilarch Judah’s brilliant and sensitive young nephew, Josiah ben Zakkai, thought he was growing up in the Garden of Eden.
But only Josiah seemed to understand when the biblical ten plagues returned, this time to afflict the Jews of Babylonia.
And as the cracks in his perfect world grew, Josiah was forced to set out on a quest…
Across the soaring Caucasus Mountains…
To the mysterious Jewish refuge, the Khaganate of Khazaria…
And beyond, to the winter lands where the sun never rises, at the edge of the known world.
Guided by the love of two exceptional women…
Shaped by a divine covenant…
Determined to protect all those that he holds dear…
Josiah will stake everything on a hidden tome from his sunlit homeland—a book that promises a path forward:
The Book of Roads and Kingdoms.
Sample the Journey
Sneak peek at some of the adventures in Josiah’s quest to save Geonic Age Jewry.
Click on the text below to read illustrated excerpts from The Book of Roads and Kingdoms.
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In the garden of childhood, a promise is made — just as the future is glimpsed through a lattice and an unfinished game of Shahtranj.
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In the jeweled halls of Baghdad, a deadly roar interrupts diplomacy — and a father races to save his daughter.
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As Kiev burns under a Norse siege, Josiah races through the city to gather his bogatyr allies and rescue a runaway princess… but a Valkyrie gets there first.
Encounter the Factions
About the Author
Michael Reuben Goldman is a novelist, storyteller, and student of Jewish legend, inspired by ancient texts, lost kingdoms, and timeless questions of identity and destiny.
A historian by education, a lawyer by training, and a political policy expert by profession, Michael has long dreamed of revealing the untold epic of Jewish sovereignty and greatness in the Late Antique world.
A native of Houston, Texas, with a BA in History and American Studies from Brandeis University and a JD from the University of Texas School of Law, Michael is the grandson of the legendary Rabbi Elazar “Louis” Feigon of Galveston, Texas, and his wife Ethel née Goldberg, a Hebrew teacher descended from the Royal House of David.
Michael lives in Miami Beach, Florida, where he spends his time reading history, learning languages, singing in synagogue—and catching the sunrise and sunset on the seashore.
Invite Michael to Speak
From literary salons to interfaith panels, book clubs to synagogues—Michael brings deep knowledge and spirited storytelling to every room.
About the Art
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