Looking for a Book

[Correus]

Okay - I'm tossing this topic out here, instead of burying it in the "What are you reading?" topic.

As I kid - and I'm talking 35+ years ago - I found a book that fascinated me. The shear size of it was daunting (about 3" thick IIRC) and a bit over a child's head. It was in the library of a small church my family attended back then (my parents still attend).

Anyway - it could only be checked out for two weeks at a time and I was a terribly slow reader - it was intended for the older reader. You could only check it out 2 times in a row. When I attempted to check it out again it was gone and never seen again!

However, something about this book has just stuck with me over the years and I've really wanted to try to find it and read it.

Here's the rub - I have no idea what the name of it is or who the author is.

The story is about Constantine the Great. IIRC the cover jacket showed Constantine on a horse looking up at a blazing Chi-Rho. From what I remember of the book it was like a combination of an autobiography and a fiction novel. The story did start out when he was a kid - can't remember if he was a child, pre-teen or teen though.

I know it's a bit of a stretch, or long shot, but I've been searching for almost 20 years!!

Does this description ring a bell with anyone?

[Big Al]

Good luck with that, Correus! You've no Bob Hope!

[Phillistien]

It could be a Novel by the Victorian writer, G.A Henty. They were given out as prizes at Sunday School which might explain why it was in the church. His books were always about young lads and their adventures during some part in British History ( mainly British History but some Non Empire stuff)

Now considered by modernists to be racist etc his books are still a great read. You can get the entire collection on Kindle for about £3.

[Correus]

Just went through a huge list of G.A Henty titles...no luck. Thanks though.

[Correus]

I FOUND IT!!!! I FOUND IT!!!!!!!



'Constantine: The Miracle of the Flaming Cross' by Frank G. Slaughter.

Here are some of the reviews - in case someone out there might want to look into it.

Discovered this old book in my personal library and began reading it. This was a very well written book following one of Rome's most famous emperors, from boyhood to emperor. Battles, tactics of the Roman war machine, politics, betrayals, conspiracies, it has everything. Plus the beginning of the Christian religion and why only certain books were included in the bible, and other Christian thoughts banished. Very interesting reading.

A very interesting novel which is all based on an historical character. It is the story of Constantine, the Roman Emperor, who was the first Roman official to accept Christianity. It is full of history and a very good story at the same time. I enjoyed reading it.

Something stuck out while looking through the G.A. Henty titles and I started looking into it closer. The more I thought about it the term "flaming cross" struck home and I search - there it was!!!!

Thanks Phillistien! 20+ years of searching - OVER!!!!

Now watch - I get the book (it is on order) and end up wanting ot game the period!!!!

[Big Al]

Well done, Correus! That was a very difficult task you set. It is good that someone remembered something that put you on the right track! I thought it was an impossible task.

[Correus]

Thanks Big Al - I thought so too.

A bit of a monkey wrench in the system though - when I logged on this morning I found an e-mail saying my order had been cancelled!!!!

So back to the net to find another to order. So far so good with this one.....

[Big Al]

Look here

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_nos ... .&x=7&y=14

or here

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchR ... =t&x=0&y=0

[Correus]

Already ordered.