The Rose of Balarm
This intriguing transformation turns a legend into a person of history.
The patron saint of Palermo, Italy (romanized as Balarm) is Santa Rosalia Sinibaldi. There’s no documented proof of her existence, so this historical tale imagines how Rosalia (Rusùlia in the book) may have lived, from her birth in 1130 to her death in 1165.
Of Swiss nationality and British origin, Nigel Patten has lived in Switzerland since 1961, teaching English at an international alpine school that prepared students for the French baccalaureate. The author previously published ten books and two plays, twice receiving a Readers’ Favorite Award. Having twice climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, he also sailed his own yacht in Greece for fifteen years. The retired teacher is a lifetime amateur actor and director, having appeared in major stage roles. He has driven overland to India, and camped in Australia, the U.S., and in every European country.
Nigel Patten
Books by Nigel Patten
What Readers Are Saying
Excellent!
This book is one of those books that you can’t put down! Very good, an excellent read.
(Amazon Review)
Vitty B.
Review on "The Rose of Balarm"
well done Nigel
excellent, and very interesting reading … he’s also a very good actor, director, and school teacher … all good ingredients.
(Amazon Review)
Arabesque
Review on "The Winter Should Pass"
Adventurous Historical Fiction
An Island Entire Unto Itself is a stunning mix of gritty adventure and deep, socio-political analysis. Taking late 18th century Corsica as its backdrop, the novel dives into the crucible of colonial rebellion, weakening empire, and the violent storms that brew in power vacuums while, at the same time, drawing us through this fragmented world with an arresting narrative. Our hero, Damian Berra, is a complex and deeply human protagonist who acts as an historical and emotional guide as the 18th century political intrigue comes crashing into the personal and intimate, creating a story that shifts between the micro and the macro with poetic ease. Author Nigel Patten is masterful in his prose, capturing the exotic and otherworldly with historical accuracy while never losing the heart of his tale to academic dryness. Part bildungsroman, part international thriller, the novel is reminiscent of Stevenson’s The Black Arrow mixed with elements of Celine’s Journey to the End of the Night, allowing for a highly original cross between the internal and global, a tale of a young man— and a nation’s— coming of age. An Island Entire Unto Itself is both a page-turner and a deeply contemplative meditation on colonialism and power. I highly recommend this book.
(Amazon Review)
Charles Asher
Review on "An Island Entire Unto Itself"
