Charlotte Maria Tucker (1821-1893) was an English author who wrote under the pseudonym A. L. O. E. (A Lady of England). She was born near Barnet, Middlesex, the daughter of Henry St George Tucker (1771-1851), a distinguished official of the British East India Company. From 1852 till her death she wrote many stories for children, most of them allegories with an obvious moral, and devoted the proceeds to charity. In 1875 she left England for India to engage in missionary work, and died at Amritsar. Her works include: The Rambles of a Rat (1854), Wings and Stings; or, Lessons From Insect Life (1855), The Young Pilgrim: A Tale Illustrative of 'The Pilgrim's Progress' (1857), The Mine; or, Darkness and Light (1858), Idols in the Heart (1859), The Lost Jewel (1860), Parliament in the Play- Room (1861), The Light in the Robber's Cave (1862), The Crown of Success; or, Four Heads to Furnish (1863), Stories for the Young (1864), Ned Franks; or, The Christian's Panoply (1865) and Hebrew Heroes: A Tale Founded on Jewish History (1869).

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There are few portions of the world's history which, to my own mind, afford subjects of such thrilling interest as that which I have selected for the groundwork of the following story. I have tried, in the main, to adhere closely to facts, though I have ventured somewhat to compress the length of time which actually elapsed between the rising against Syrian tyranny at Modin, and the restoration of the Temple. I may also have been inaccurate in representing Antiochus Epiphanes as being still in Jerusalem at the period when the battle of Emmaus took place. Such trifling deviations from history seem to me, however, by no means to interfere with that fidelity to its grand outlines which an author should conscientiously observe. No historical character has been wilfully misrepresented in these pages. If I have ventured to paint one of the noblest of Judah's heroes with the feelings and weaknesses common to man, I trust that even his most enthusiastic Hebrew admirer will not deem that they lower his dignity as commander, or patriot prince. The exploits of Judas Maccabeus might seem to be a theme more befitting the pen of one of his own race than mine; yet would I fain hope that a work which it has been a labour of love to a Christian to write, may not be altogether despised even by the descendants of Hebrew heroes who shared the Asmonean's toils and triumphs in the land for which he conquered and died.