title: The mantle
author:  William H Stephens 
description: Perhaps once in every generation a historic novel appears which is to powerful, so totally gripping, that it becomes universally acclaimed as a classic. The Mantle is destined to be such a book. The reader will be completely absorbed in this sweeping saga of one fearless man facing a decaying nation, a sadistic queen and a totally sensual religion.<br><br>In this brutal, yet magnificent, storyset in the stark landscape of ancient IsraelWilliam Stephens vividly portrays the heroic adventures of Elijah. All alone this rough-hewn prophet confronts Queen Jezebel in her malicious scheme to supplant the worship of Jehovah with the sensuous fertility cult of Baal. All alone Gods servant, Elijah, turns the tide of Jewish history.<br><br>Elijah . . . Jezebel . . . Ahabnames charged with electric emotion! Here the electric charge is transformed into throbbing, explosive realitynames become flesh and blood peopleas the reader lives with them in the terrible presence of frenzied, demonic priests and enslaved masochistic devotees of Baal.<br><br>The Mantle has been translated into five other languages. This book has been published also under the titles Elijah and Prophet of Fire.<br>
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  > Red Mantle
  
  > Third of the Mantle Chronicles
  
  > Gail Merritt
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright © 2020 Gail Merritt
  
  All rights reserved  
    
  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any
  similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended
  by the author.  
    
  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or
  transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
  recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.  
    
    
    
    
  Cover design by: KaeDe Noki, photographs by Brinta L. Bunt and Thomas Mucha @
  Shutterstock  
    
  Printed in the United States of America
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  > For Helen, thank you for your help, including the geology advice.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  > Contents
  
  [Title Page](index_split_000.html#filepos101)
  
  [Copyright](index_split_001.html#filepos477)
  
  [Dedication](index_split_002.html#filepos1269)
  
  [  
  ](index_split_004.html#filepos3222)
  
  [I. The Magus](inde