The story of Isaac Marcu Moritz and the great affliction of his childhood caused by a lightning bolt launched by Jupiter, god of the sky, the father of gods and men, and the patron of Rome. The bolt kills his aged mentor whose knowledge of history and languages is transferred to the traumatised mind of the boy. He is plagued throughout his life by visions and torment of Rome’s ancient rulers and gods. Growing up on the family farm his skill in the capture of flies by hand learned by watching his grandmother’s action while at the packing table leads to success in rural land sales and a posting in a university entomology research program of hand-fly-capture. He establishes Snap-Zap-Solutions with the aim of eradicating the pestilence to improve the human condition. Will he ever understand himself enough to empathise or forever live in abeyance wondering who or what is really driving his life?
Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Edward Shergold’s influences of space and light in architecture, the universal realm, history, art and words are entwined in Jupiter, his first novel. He has travelled extensively, visually categorizing the moments of places for some future recollection. An enthusiast for his native city he currently lives in Melbourne with his family.