FOR PUBLICATION IN 2008

Toledo, Spain 1391- 1449

The Spanish Inquisition won’t begin for more than 30 years, but seeds of hatred long ago sprouted in Castile. Suspicions fester. Violence lies close beneath the surface.

 ***
Miguel Perez is a converso, a Catholic born to Jewish parents in 1391, the year of the great slaughter, the year his parents had to renounce Judaism.

Fifty years later, administering the City of Toledo, Miguel must keep the peace. Though he has little sympathy for Jews, he’s duty-bound to protect them.

Miguel encounters a fanatic named Marcos Garcia, who leads a group of malcontents called Sangre Pura. Miguel thwarts Garcia’s deadly intentions, and Garcia vows vengeance. Garcia’s men critically wound Miguel at the battle of Olmedo, but Miguel survives.

When King Juan appoints a new governor for Toledo, Garcia becomes his deputy. Garcia’s anger at the conversos turns to frenzy, as he learns that his enemy, Miguel Perez, is beyond his reach. Other conversos aren’t as lucky. Garcia imprisons Jewish converts, planning to torture them, expose their blasphemy and spark a movement to expel them from Castile.

Miguel has gone to Naples to court his love, Francesca, who lives with the King of Aragon and Naples. As he falls deeper in love with the beautiful woman, she divulges her relationship to the royal families of Spain.

Learning of events in Toledo, Miguel is torn between love and the duty to rescue his people. Finally, he travels to Rome, seeking the Pope’s aid and then home to face his mortal foe.

From the Author

"My wife, Marguerite, and I were traveling in Europe. (We took a year away and brought our 16-year-old cat along for the adventure.) In Toledo, the architecture and history drew me in. It’s a magical city crafted by Muslim, Jew and Christian. There had been a marvelous symbiosis between these three peoples- Jewish craftsmen and translators, Muslim artisans and architects, Catholic Kings who cultivated learning and culture. At some point it all fell apart, culminating in the Inquisition, then the expulsions of Jews and Muslims. I kept asking myself how such a tragedy occurred. The question became my quest, and the quest grew into my novel, Soul of Toledo."

If you’d like to learn more of Ed’s experiences in Spain that led him to write Soul of Toledo, click above or use the links below for information about his book,

A YEAR OF SUNDAYS, Taking the Plunge (and our Cat) to Explore Europe.

More from the PUBLISHER- VanderWyk and Burnham’s website: www.vandb.com/ayos

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING- Visit Amazon.com to read more or purchase.  

Note: A Year of Sundays is available- usually by special order- from bookstores in the US, Canada and Britain and from many sites online.

For great insights into Spain and Spanish history- National Geographic- This link will take you to their online store for a variety of publications, video and gift items- Shop National Geographic!

Historical Novel Society- www.historicalnovelsociety.org

Ed's Homepage- A Year of Sundays               Page 2- About A YEAR OF SUNDAYS

Page 3- Travel Without Sight                 Page 4- Felicia, Queen of Traveling Cats

Page 6- Fun Cat Links                                             Page 7- Budget Travel Info.