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 (Ruslia in the book) may have lived, from her birth in 1130 to her death in 1165.

The daughter of a Lombard count and a Norman noblewoman, she was also a distant cousin of King Roger II (Rujari). Educated in the Norman palace of Qasr, Ruslia was given in marriage by the king at age fourteen to the French Count Baudouin.

Ruslia took refuge in a Basilian monastery to avoid the marriage. She then fled to her family estates and lived partly in a cave. Years later, she was forced to return to Balarm and became one of Queen Margaret's ladies. Known for performing minor "miracles," Ruslia fled once more to live in another cave under Mount Pellegrino, where she lived until her death.

In 1642 during the plague in Balarm, her bones were discovered, taken down the mountain, and paraded round the city. Three days later, the plague disappeared.

(About the Author)

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.