Episode 2104: THE CENTURION: A TALE OF THE CRUCIFIXION by Joe Mack High - a podcast by Ric Bratton

THE CENTURION: A TALE OF THE CRUCIFIXION by Joe Mack High

In the days of the Roman Empire, Animus’s family was not landowners, but part of the land with the forests and fields. Animus has never been away from home. But when the land can no longer support his family, he travels to Tarsus to join Pompey’s navy and fights in the war against Cilician pirates threatening grain shipments and other goods destined for Rome.

After Animus sets into motion events that ultimately transform him into a landowner and lift his family from poverty, his son, Cyrus, attends the University of Tarsus, marries well, and provides an environment that further prepares his own son, Cornelius, for his destiny. When Cornelius joins the Roman legion and becomes First Centurion of the Tenth Legion under Pontius Pilate, he befriends Jesus. The intertwining paths of these two men bring them together for a final encounter when Cornelius requests that Pilate put him in command of the crucifixion party.

The Centurion: A Tale of the Crucifixion traces three generations in an adventurous, thought-provoking story as a Roman soldier sets out on a journey of self-discovery to meet his destiny.

Born December 22, 1924, Yancey County, North Carolina. the heart of Appalachia: no electricity, no indoor plumbing, no telephone, no newspaper, no paved road, but an Eden on Earth to me.

Graduated from high school June 1942

Joined Marine Corps January 1943, afraid the war would be over before I could get there. Trained as a telephone lineman to lay telephone lines up and down beach and into command posts. Made four assault landings. Discharged November 1945, rank: Pfc.

I had planned to return to Yancey County, buy some land and farm, but my parents insisted I enroll in a small liberal arts college. I survived the first term and fell in love with coursework. I majored in business and had minors in English and philosophy. I graduated in May 1949. I enrolled in graduate school and received a Masters Degree in Economics and Accounting, graduating in May 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950. I was recalled to active duty with the Marine Corp, but did not get to Korea. I was discharged with rank of Corporal in summer of 951 I began a career in accounting, passed the CPA exam, and taught accounting at a small college. As a second job, I worked as an auditor for a local CPA firm, and began to build my own tax practice. In 2015 - 2016 my eyesight began to fail and I gave up my practice.

I had married in 1947, now had two grown children, two grandchildren, and now five great grandchildren.

A Marine friend, seriously wounded in Vietnam, had written a well-received autobiography. He encouraged me to consider writing. I asked a client, about my age, a retired English teacher at the University of Tennessee, to take on the task of teaching me to write. She was a hard taskmaster, but finally turned my experience writing audit reports into acceptable prose. In two years, with her coaching, I had a 700 page novel called The Centurion. A local editor, a teacher of creative writing, marked up the text. As I was unable to do so, another editor agreed to help me in the editing of the novel, reducing it to about 350 pages. The two editors made the novel.

My life has been a great adventure. Except for the debauchery in Rome, the novel is the story of my life.
https://www.amazon.com/Centurion-Crucifixion-Joe-Mack-High-ebook/dp/B07H6FZ7KZ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Joe+Mack+High&qid=1598971617&s=books&sr=1-1
www.TheCenturionNovel.com
http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/josmackhigh.mp3

Further episodes of This Week in America with Ric Bratton

Further podcasts by Ric Bratton

Website of Ric Bratton