Belshazzar: A Tale of the Fall of Babylon (1902)

Historical fiction about the fall of Babylon. The author has not been unmindful that certain record tablets give a narrative of the capture of Babylon, in some points differing from the Bible account in the Book of Daniel. It is not improper to point out that the Chronicle Tablets were written with a political end to serve, –to soothe the feelings of the conquered Babylonians, by representing that Babylon surrendered voluntarily to Cyrus. This is hardly likely; but it is very probable that the city was taken by treachery among the priests and not by assault. At the time of original publication in 1902, William Stearns Davis was Professor of Ancient History, University of Minnesota.