- Judas, My Brother
infobox Book |
name = Judas, My Brother
title_orig =
translator =
image_caption =
author =Frank Yerby
cover_artist =
country =United States
language = English
series =
genre =Historical novel
publisher = Heinemann
release_date = 1968
media_type = Print (Hardback &Paperback )
pages =
isbn = ISBN 0-434-89030-8 (hardback edition) & ISBN 0-8037-4289-4 (paperback edition)
preceded_by =
followed_by ="Judas, My Brother: The Story of the Thirteenth Disciple" is a
1968 historical novel byFrank Yerby . The novel provides a narrative attempting a demythologized account of the events surrounding the life ofJesus and the origin ofChristianity .Plot introduction
Written from the viewpoint of Nathaniel ('the Thirteenth Disciple'), the heavily footnoted book presents an adventure and romance storyline against the backdrop of the
1st century Roman Empire . Nathaniel's travels lead him to Rome to fight as aretiarius , and on his return toPalestine to become involved with the Apostles, the Zealots and theEssenes . He loves Shelomith (the disciple Salome, depicted in the novel as a prostitute), who does not return his affections due to her unrequited love for Yeshua (Jesus).Main themes
This story is simultaneously used as a vehicle for Yerby's examination of the historical personalities and Christian beliefs through the ideas of critical theological writings. The book is written from a strongly skeptical viewpoint:
miracle s are given physical explanations, such as mistaken identity, of varying plausibility. On the frontispiece, Yerby warns "those emotionally dependent upon the Christian Religion" to read no further. The sleeve notes continue::" This novel touches on only two issues which, in a certain sense, might be called controversial: whether any man truly has the right to believe fanciful and childish nonsense; and whether any organization has the right to impose, by almost imperial fiat, belief in things that simply are not so. To me, irrationality is dangerous; perhaps the most dangerous force stalking through the world today. This novel, then, is one man's plea for an ecumenicism broad enough to include reasonable men; and his effort to defend his modest intellect from intolerable insult".
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