The Jerusalem Diamond

By: Noah Gordon

Narrated by: Fleet Cooper

A man travels to Israel to uncover a diamond's remarkable past in this vivid historical saga from the New York Times best-selling author of The Physician.

A diamond cutter and seller from a long, respected line of precious-gem dealers, New Yorker Harry Hopeman is intrigued by the story of the so-called "Jerusalem Diamond", a magnificent yellow jewel rumored to date back to the biblical time of King Solomon. So when he's asked to broker a deal that will return the legendary gemstone to Israel, he eagerly accepts.

Arriving in the volatile Middle East, Hopeman soon discovers that his assignment will be anything but easy. Representatives of the Holy Land's three major religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - are all laying claim to the priceless jewel that once adorned the miter of Pope Gregory, and they will do anything to possess it.

Partnering with Israeli government agent Tamar Strauss - a beautiful and courageous Yemenite war widow who inspires the visiting American's passion as well as his respect - Hopeman is soon entangled in a web of mystery and intrigue that crosses continents and stretches back thousands of years. As the duo follows the twisting travels of the gem and the bloody conflicts it has ignited throughout its extraordinary past - a history that intertwines with Hopeman's own family saga - the story of a breathtaking land and its people unfolds in all its drama and glory.

International best-selling author Noah Gordon - whose acclaimed historical novel The Physician was the inspiration for the major motion picture of the same name starring Ben Kingsley - "has packed a suspense tale with religious, historical and archeological underpinnings, along with fascinating insights into an industry whose conduct is generally shrouded from outside scrutiny" (The Philadelphia Inquirer).

©1979 Lise Gordon, Michael Seay Gordon and The Jamie Gordon Trust (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

brilliant like the yellow diamond

I'd read it all again. The story is compelling. The history even more truly appreciated.

Worth listening just for the narrator! Exceptional

Worth listening just for the narrator! He was Exceptional. Story pretty good. very interesting learned a lot about Jewish history

Excellent book. Narration just ok.

As always an excellent Noah Gordon's novel. Narration was just ok. I recommend reading reading the book. Consider narration if you need the audible 100%.

Interesting topic

Enjoyable , but could have used a little more action.the going back and forth in time periods was at times a little confusing.

Terrible narration, sexist dialogue

Could have been an interesting story but I was completely derailed by the poor narration - couldn’t they get someone who had a clue about pronunciation of Jewish artifacts, Israeli cities or traditions? The underlying sexism got to me, too - I’m not the reader who wants to hear - repeatedly- about the weight of her breasts, or hear another description of their sexual encounters.

I should have paid attention to what other reviewers said

The author had a obsession apparently with genitalia and sex acts. Maybe he thought his story line wasn’t good enough to stand alone. I’ll never know. I don’t often stop reading a book once I started it, but this was one of those times.