Dear Future People by Anne Nolting

“Dear Future People is a brilliantly written historical novel and especially recommended for young adult readers...” —The Children’s Bookwatch of the Midwest Book Review

This is a novel which describes the climax of the Hellenic Age in Egypt. Events follow historic accounts of the civil war between Rome and Constantinople, the destruction of the Temple of Serapis, the “ethnic cleansing” and massacre of Gothic youth, and a trip down the Nile to seek a prophesy for Emperor Theodosius. Hypatia, a woman, was destined to stand at the center of this time of political power struggle. In translation, quotes from the period are woven into the story.

Hypatia was born in the later years of the Roman Empire, an era when women were not free to pursue careers. This was a time when orthodox belief effectively wiped out centuries of scientific discovery. Ancient Greek works were torched and scholars were murdered. Hypatia was the last proprietor of the Hellenic Age wonder, the Library of Alexandria. She is portrayed as a young adult facing the issues of a changing world. The reader will discover in the novel, uncanny parallels to many current situations within our country and the world. Hypatia, a real, historically documented heroine is a “find” for today’s young adults who are searching for strong, non-fiction role models.

Anne Nolting is a poet, and regularly contributes articles to magazines. She resides in Palmer, Alaska.