The Silk Tree

In 549, merchant Nicander and former legionary Marius flee the devastation of Rome and reach Constantinople with little more than their wits. Their schemes for rebuilding their fortunes eventually lead them to Emperor Justinian’s court, where they propose an audacious expedition to obtain the secret of silk production and free Byzantium from its dependence on costly eastern trade.

Disguised as monks, the unlikely partners travel across unfamiliar kingdoms toward China, confronting hostile officials, dangerous roads and the consequences of deceiving an emperor. The novel places their fictional mission among the politics of Justinian’s reign and the historical tradition that silkworm eggs were smuggled west, combining court intrigue with a long-distance adventure across two major civilisations.