Michael Patriate is minding his own business, well, the business of merging two mega corporations. But when he’s snatched away and deposited in Renaissance Italy, he has to start over with nothing except his business skills and the wristwatch that might get him killed.
Synopsis
In his single-minded drive to succeed, businessman Michael Patriate allowed Sheila, the woman he loved, to slip away. And when his picture on the cover of High Finance Magazine validates the years of sacrifice, a midnight attack on a Manhattan street interrupts his celebration. Dumped alone into a backward country that is—impossibly—Renaissance Italy, he starts over in provincial Caorle with ambition and business experience his only resources.
Michael fights his way back to the top and takes on the ruthless merchants in neighboring Venice, while he falls in love with Cecile, a young widow. But he catches the attention of a rich merchant and the doge of Venice, who each want his business savvy and knowledge of advanced technology. Will he act to make himself rich at the cost of disrupting society? Can he change history? Will he turn his back on friends and on Cecile?
How would you make your way if thrust into an impossible situation where all you possess, down to the culture and technology that define your world, is stripped away? What choices would you make? How far would you go? The King of Silk tells the story of one man's journey.
Excerpt
He heard himself groan and cracked open his eyes. Ragged denim cuffs skirted a pair of spotless white sneakers planted on the curb inches in front of his face. In the gutter lay the magazine; his picture mocked him from its cover. A hand fished in his pockets.
Don’t hurt me.
Michael’s mind replayed a photograph of an unshaven behemoth clad in a dirty orange ski cap and dingy athletic jacket despite the heat. The monster towered above him from up on the sidewalk and pinned him with a crazy vacant stare.
Michael closed his eyes again and mumbled, “Just take what you want.”
Professional Reviews
DeWanna Pace
“THE KING OF SILK is a thriller with a sharp intelligence
that blends history, mystery and romance adeptly.
Joe Douglas Trent is a new voice in fiction to watch.”
--DeWanna Pace
GIVE ME A TEXAS OUTLAW
July, 2011
Historical Novel Review
2011/01/08
The King of Silk by Joe Douglas Trent
Michael Patriate is a rising star in the business world. His knowledge and shrewdness have taken him into the most powerful offices and boardrooms of New York City. As he occupies himself with merging two powerful corporations and gracing the pages of the world’s most respected finance magazine, his personal life is falling apart. The woman he loves has left him. One dark night, as he walks alone through a deserted street in Manhattan, he is mugged and assaulted and falls into unconsciousness.
When he awakes, he finds himself in a strange world, one that is completely foreign to him. As he encounters people, he comes to the realization that the year is 1492 and he has somehow travelled to Renaissance Italy in the area of Caorle. With nothing of value except for his wristwatch, which is more of a danger to him than an aid, Michael is utterly alone and must fend for himself. Armed with his business acumen, he soon finds himself a job working for a merchant. Soon, he takes over the bookkeeping for the small business and teaches his new boss knowledge from the modern world. Soon he finds himself travelling to Venice, trying to outsmarting a bevy of callous merchants. His knowledge attracts attention at the highest levels. Even his love life improves as he falls in love with the lovely widow, Cecile, who he boards with.
The King of Silk is a fascinating story about a man armed with modern knowledge who is forced to explore the world centuries ago. Michael is a congenial hero thrust into an impossible situation. As the reader progresses through the novel, they are swept into the dangers and realities of a treacherous world. The book is well written and edited. The prose is clear and the story is easy to follow. Numerous colourful characters that Michael meets as he journeys to Venice and later Portugal, keep the reader engrossed in the story, turning pages to find out what happens next. For anyone who loves time travel and Italian historical fiction, this book is definitely a well-researched winner. But you'll have to wait to read it. The book is scheduled for release early in 2011. Watch for it on Amazon or visit the author's website at: http://www.jdtrent.com/
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