Martin Mosebach

This was a fascinating look at the Coptic community. One that was rich with detail, immersive, and clearly a labor of love for the author. Martin Mosebach writes with a prose that often borders on poetic and makes the book a joy to read. The book leaves us with a bit more understanding of the quiet, understated faith and heroism of the martyrs.

I received this book in an early reviewers librarything giveaway. There was a lot of information in this book about the middle east and relations between different religious groups. Readers learn a lot but I thought the focus of the book was going to be the 21 men who were killed. I did not feel like there was an in depth look into their individual lives.

As the cover proclaims, this is “a journey into the land of Coptic martyrs.” On February 15, 2015, twenty-one young Egyptian men, ISIS captives, were marched onto a beach in Libya and beheaded. The video recording of that event went around the world. What was most striking was the dignity and faith they maintained until the end. The author sets out trying to learn about them, their home villages, and the faith that supported them. A bit philosophical for me, but I read it to pay my respects.