The Fortress is a captivating novel set in 18th century Sarajevo under Ottoman rule. The story follows a soldier named Ahmet Shabo who returns from the wars in Russia, carrying the heavy burden of losing nearly his entire unit, either to battle or suicide.

A Muslim by faith, he marries a Christian girl whose love and support become his anchor as he navigates a society steeped in political intrigue and cultural tension. His journey through personal and societal challenges leads him to dabble in politics, culminating in a daring raid to rescue a friend from jail.

This novel offers a profound reflection on the human condition and the resilience of the spirit amidst adversity.

They met as children, innocents from two different worlds. And from that moment, their lives were fated to be forever entwined.

Timothy: Abandoned at birth, he finds a home—and a dazzling career—within the Catholic Church. But the vows he takes cannot protect him from one soul-igniting passion.

Daniel: The scholarly son of a great rabbi, he is destined to follow in his father's footsteps. And destined to break his father's heart.

Deborah: She was raised to be docile and dutiful—the perfect rabbi's wife—but love will lead her to rebellion. And into worlds the patriarch would never dare imagine.

Reaching across more than a quarter of a century, from the tough streets of Brooklyn to ultramodern Brasilia to an Israeli kibbutz, and radiating the splendor of two holy cities, Rome and Jerusalem, here is Erich Segal's most provocative and ambitious novel to date—the unforgettable story of three extraordinary lives...and one forbidden love.