Mary, Called Magdalene
1 journaler for this copy...
Purchased at Bookbuyers on 5/10/06 to take advantage of my employee discount for the first time.
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Product Description
Magdalene are tantalizingly brief, yet she continues to spark controversy, curiosity, and veneration. We know more about her than about many of Christ's male disciples, and her significance is enshrined in her ancient honorific "Apostle to the Apostles." But still, as a woman, she remains in shadow. Was she a prostitute, a female-divinity figure, a church leader, or all of those?
Hallmarked by bestselling author Margaret George's dazzling mix of history and creativity, Mary, Called Magdalene is George's most ambitious work yet. Brilliantly grounded in both biblical and secular historical research, it depicts Mary of Magdala in the first hundred years of the first millennium-even as it peels away layers of legend. Testaments, letters, and narrative convincingly capture Mary's immediate and moving voice as she becomes part of the circle of disciples and comes to grips with the divine. Bridging the gap for readers of Antonia Fraser and fans of The Red Tent, Mary, Called Magdalene transcends both history and fiction to become a "diary of a soul."
About the Author
Margaret George, a tenth-generation American, is the author of the bestselling The Autobiography of Henry VIII, Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles, and The Memoirs of Cleopatra. She continues research for her novels in places such as Egypt, Israel, Rome, and England.
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Product Description
Magdalene are tantalizingly brief, yet she continues to spark controversy, curiosity, and veneration. We know more about her than about many of Christ's male disciples, and her significance is enshrined in her ancient honorific "Apostle to the Apostles." But still, as a woman, she remains in shadow. Was she a prostitute, a female-divinity figure, a church leader, or all of those?
Hallmarked by bestselling author Margaret George's dazzling mix of history and creativity, Mary, Called Magdalene is George's most ambitious work yet. Brilliantly grounded in both biblical and secular historical research, it depicts Mary of Magdala in the first hundred years of the first millennium-even as it peels away layers of legend. Testaments, letters, and narrative convincingly capture Mary's immediate and moving voice as she becomes part of the circle of disciples and comes to grips with the divine. Bridging the gap for readers of Antonia Fraser and fans of The Red Tent, Mary, Called Magdalene transcends both history and fiction to become a "diary of a soul."
About the Author
Margaret George, a tenth-generation American, is the author of the bestselling The Autobiography of Henry VIII, Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles, and The Memoirs of Cleopatra. She continues research for her novels in places such as Egypt, Israel, Rome, and England.
This was one of the books I decided to take with me to England. It was the second book I finished. I read it on the trains for the most part, between London and Bath.
I've managed to pick up several books by this author so I'm quite happy to finally read one! Mary Magdalene gets little mention in the Bible, but there are so few recurring women in the Gospels that she gets singled out. Since she's also the first person the risen Christ sees, she's certainly compelling enough to deserve questions about why she was so prominent? Who was Mary of Magdala?
George certainly tries to answer that here. She felt that there was no evidence that Mary was a prostitute, as common lore often describes her, and fashioned for her a husband and a daughter. (One thing that seemed strange to me was Mary's daughter was described as rising high within the Jewish church, but I thought the role of women was extremely limited - Mary wanted education and couldn't get it at the beginning of the novel.) Mary is intensely religious, but interested in art and beauty and "earthly" matters too. Jesus is the first person to really encourage this curiosity, while gently reminding her to keep God foremost always.
The main fascination I felt was with Jesus as George portrayed Him, not so much with Mary. To me it was much more interesting to read His possible day-to-day interactions, and George does a great job of preserving His divinity while rounding out His human side.
I've managed to pick up several books by this author so I'm quite happy to finally read one! Mary Magdalene gets little mention in the Bible, but there are so few recurring women in the Gospels that she gets singled out. Since she's also the first person the risen Christ sees, she's certainly compelling enough to deserve questions about why she was so prominent? Who was Mary of Magdala?
George certainly tries to answer that here. She felt that there was no evidence that Mary was a prostitute, as common lore often describes her, and fashioned for her a husband and a daughter. (One thing that seemed strange to me was Mary's daughter was described as rising high within the Jewish church, but I thought the role of women was extremely limited - Mary wanted education and couldn't get it at the beginning of the novel.) Mary is intensely religious, but interested in art and beauty and "earthly" matters too. Jesus is the first person to really encourage this curiosity, while gently reminding her to keep God foremost always.
The main fascination I felt was with Jesus as George portrayed Him, not so much with Mary. To me it was much more interesting to read His possible day-to-day interactions, and George does a great job of preserving His divinity while rounding out His human side.
