The Spear and the Crag

About the Book

While not a religious story, the novel involves the early beliefs in the monotheistic deity by the ancient Israelites, or Hebrews, and their friendly non-idol worshipping neighbours and wandering tribes in ancient Palestine. The novel describes the revulsive incidents, hatred, and customs in the region among nearly all diverse groups. The 'Spear' and the'Crag' are representations and metaphors frequently mentioned in the Pentateuch through which these numerous confrontations and incidents occur.

However, the author has used modern historiographic style to modernize the language and parlance taken from the language of the bible (Genesis and Numbers); and, vividly replaced in this novel.

About the Author

Alexander Bleimann was born in 1918 in New York City from Hungarian immigrant parents, attending public school and graduating from George Washington High School. He attended the City College of New York for a year, and while working for a chemical company, the dark clouds of World War Two approaching, enlisted in the 7th Regiment of the New York National Guard in 1939. However, in 1940, President Roosevelt mobilized all reserves into the Army of the United States, including the author, and soon was ordered with his regiment to Camp Stewart, Georgia on February 20, 1941. He was tranferred to the Chemical Warfare Service to Fort Jackson, South Carolina and to Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, for Special Training. Due to the lack of quality personnel, he was transferred to the Headquarters of the Fifth Bombardment Wing (Heavy) of the United States Air Force, and shipped to the war zone of North Africa where the German forces under General Rommel were battling the British Eighth Army. After the North African campaign, his unit was flown to Foggia, Italy, but he was ordered to remain in Tunis with a cadre to assist in secret operations to build the 15th Air Force under the command of Major General Nathaniel Twining for which he was decorated by the Secretary of the Air Force. After spending over two years overseas, he was ordered stateside for RRR, and while on leave, the war ended with the dropping of the two atomic bombs. He was honorably discharged with seven decorations. With his brother in 1946, Berje Chemical Products, Inc. was formed, and after 35 successful years, both retired with the continuance of the company.

He married Jeanne, and three sons were born to them, Eugene, George and Kenneth. At this publishing, they have five grandchildren.

The author has written eight novels, a success history, "George Washington in New York", co-authored with Dr. Allen Boudreau, which found its way in over 120 University libraries and Public Libraries. He is presently working on a history of the War of 1812. He writes both in Staten Island and in West Palm Beach.

As a lover of the principles of Freemasonry, he is on the editorial staff of the American Lodge of Research which publishes annually TRANSACTIONS, a very prestigious literary and historic publication, and was a Trustee of the Robert R. Livingston Library of the Grand Lodge of New York.

He ran for the State Senate in New York in President Eisenhower's first election, and graduated from Columbia University where he served several years as Director and Treasurer of the GS Alumni Association.