H. Rider Haggard 
Pearl-Maiden 

Sir Henry Rider Haggard was an English writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and the creator of the Lost World literary genre. His stories, situated at the lighter end of the scale of Victorian literature, continue to be popular and influential. He was also involved in agricultural reform and improvement in the British Empire. The story of Miriam, born just after the first persecution of the Christians shortly after the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Though her parents don’t survive, she becomes a Christian and is an observer of the fall of Jerusalem to Rome. (Excerpt from Goodreads)