Jillian Becker

These stories, variously set in England, South Africa, Botswana, Europe, America between the late 19th century and the early 21st century, were written at intervals in the long life of the writer. They differ widely in mood, style, and content, but one thing they all have in common is irony.

The story is about the Leyton family, of Russian-Jewish descent, living in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the 1930s. The father, Rayfel, is a lawyer who aspires to political power. He believes the racially divided country can be saved by liberal democracy. His wife, Freda, despises Johannesburg society and longs for romantic drama in her life. Their articulate, imaginative, even visionary daughter, Josephine, is precocious in her understanding of those who surround her at home and at school, and is troubled by the injustices some of them suffer. She has extraordinary empathy with her handsome, inarticulate brother, Simon. He is a force of nature, wild, at times to the point of savagery. The adults live as Europeans in an Africa that remains mysterious and alien, beautiful but dangerous to them. Its menace lurks even where they feel most safe in their suburban home. In the end, it defeats and destroys them all except Simon.

Mordec son of Hauk the Meadmaker and nine other fourteen-year-old boys sail in their own small ship along with the fleet carrying Viking warriors to England for a season of trade.Mordec Raids England is a Viking story unlike any other; a gripping tale of discovery, jousting, skullduggery, dread, friendship, feasting, and laughter.The story is full of surprises, fast action, cliff-hanger thrills, and comedy. It swarms with highly individual characters - warriors, knights, peasants, hypocrites, noble men and women, a dour priest, a charming "art director", a friendly executioner - caught in extraordinary situations. It brings to life a time and a world that the reader will not want to leave. Happily, it promises more adventures for Mordec and his friends in books to follow.