- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Three Rivers Press; Reprint edition (Dec 2 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0307394840
- ISBN-13: 978-0307394842
- Product Dimensions: 13 x 1.7 x 20.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 227 g
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#79,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #29 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Religious & Inspirational > Biblical
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Harek, author of biblically-inspired novels such as Zipporah, Wife of Moses and Sarah, imagines the childhood and tumultuous young adulthood of Miriam (Mary) of Nazareth, mother of Jesus. Her loving parents Joachim and Hannah want to protect their daughter, but violence surrounds them as Herod's egregious taxation sparks Jewish insurrection. Miriam befriends a young revolutionary named Barabbas (yes, the same seditious Barabbas to be released more than three decades later instead of Jesus), and her world is upended by political uncertainty. In Halter's hands, Miriam is equal parts brazen temerity and quiet holiness, her deep courage an example to those who would submit to injustice, her scholarship unusual among women and her skill at healing remarkable. The novel offers brisk pacing and a good deal of adventure. Along the way, readers will learn a great deal of the ascetic Essene sect and the traditions and practices of first-century Judaism. And the novel's climax-the famous Annunciation-happens not out of the blue, but because a determined Miriam asks Yahweh to bring the Messiah and is blessed. In Halter's hands, Mary is not a passive receptacle of divine grace, but an active agent in changing the world.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"[In Mary of Nazareth] Halter has created a memorable and appealing heroine."
—Historical Novels Review
"A worthy heiress to Anita Diamant’s bestseller The Red Tent, [Sarah is] an entertaining read, with a heroine who uses both her brain and her femininity to astonishing effect."
—Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“A brilliant achievement: packed with drama and suspense, powerfully engaging and thought-provoking. This is Halter at his best–by offering his own intriguing interpretation of Mary’s life, he builds bridges across the millennia and across different faiths and cultures.”
—Eva Etzioni-Halevy, author of The Song of Hannah and The Garden of Ruth
“How much can a mother influence the path that her child chooses? Halter provides a dazzling new look at the most famous mother of them all–in the important years before motherhood. In the midst of the political turmoil of first-century Palestine, Mary shines forth as an advocate for liberation through peaceful means. Like the great biblical heroines before her, she is a woman of faith, courage, and action. Mary of Nazareth will inspire women of all faiths who yearn for peace and freedom.”
—Rebecca Kohn, author of The Gilded Chamber: A Novel of Queen Esther
“By giving a voice to Mary of Nazareth, Merek Halter resurrects one of the most fascinating women in history. A story as richly imagined as it is illuminating.”
—Michelle Moran, national bestselling author of Nefertiti
From the Hardcover edition.
—Historical Novels Review
"A worthy heiress to Anita Diamant’s bestseller The Red Tent, [Sarah is] an entertaining read, with a heroine who uses both her brain and her femininity to astonishing effect."
—Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“A brilliant achievement: packed with drama and suspense, powerfully engaging and thought-provoking. This is Halter at his best–by offering his own intriguing interpretation of Mary’s life, he builds bridges across the millennia and across different faiths and cultures.”
—Eva Etzioni-Halevy, author of The Song of Hannah and The Garden of Ruth
“How much can a mother influence the path that her child chooses? Halter provides a dazzling new look at the most famous mother of them all–in the important years before motherhood. In the midst of the political turmoil of first-century Palestine, Mary shines forth as an advocate for liberation through peaceful means. Like the great biblical heroines before her, she is a woman of faith, courage, and action. Mary of Nazareth will inspire women of all faiths who yearn for peace and freedom.”
—Rebecca Kohn, author of The Gilded Chamber: A Novel of Queen Esther
“By giving a voice to Mary of Nazareth, Merek Halter resurrects one of the most fascinating women in history. A story as richly imagined as it is illuminating.”
—Michelle Moran, national bestselling author of Nefertiti
From the Hardcover edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2.6 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
20 of 25 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Marek Halter's sick ending to "Mary of Nazareth", Aug 22 2008
By MEG "the Good Book reader" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Mary of Nazareth: A Novel (Hardcover)
This is a very imaginative story about Mary, the mother of Jesus. The book helped me to grasp the desperation the Jews felt living under their local (Jewish) ruler,Herod, and how arbitrary & cruel life was for the Jewish nation under him. I can more readily understand how much they hoped for the foretold Messiah. I would have liked to see the list of researched materials the author used.I gave this a low rating, however, because Marek Halter pulled a fast one at the end of the book. He added a realistic postscript which explains that an old Polish woman allegedly gave Halter, when he visited Warsaw, an ancient text supposedly written by Mary. In it, Mary testifies that Joseph of Arimathea gave Jesus a drug that only made him seem dead, for 3 days. And that Jesus walked away through a fault in the tomb. Then Halter provides another postscript which implies that the old Poilish woman's son, naturally named Jesus, died at Auschwitz, so we are left with the impression that it was all a misunderstanding on the author's part, or on our part, or on a bogus translation's part. Whatever.
I am quite upset with Mr. Halter because he broke trust with us, his readers. He brought us into the life of Mary, into a world he created,
then jerks us around with a denial of Jesus as the son of God because the central core of Christianity is Jesus's resurrection; not that Jesus performed miracles, not that Mary was a virgin, etc., but that Jesus rose from the dead. He is laughing at us via these bogus postscripts. No thank you, I will not entertain to read your books again!
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A different Mary - A real Mary, Jun 19 2008
By Red Rose "Red Rose Romance Writer and Reader" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Mary of Nazareth: A Novel (Hardcover)
Bear River Spirit: The thematic of the games includes: Motion pictures, actors, music, writers, Internet, American Presidents, computers...etc. This book gives a look at a completely different Mary the mother of Jesus than Christians are used to. I loved the book for this very reason. The novel shows Mary as an intelligent well educated woman with a rebellious and stubborn nature. I adore this Mary. The farout connection to Barrabbus kept the story interesting, because what novel could you sell today touting a strong, intelligent, and rebellious woman? The extreme fiction of this Barrabbus connection will keep the Zealot Christians from screaming foul. Another point I liked about this novel is the intelligent Mary being trained in medicines and herbs. It goes into depth subliminally on how she would raise her son. The above two reasons give us a very unusual ending and just how the son of God - son of Mary could resurrect from the dead. I truly loved the ending, Marek.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A different Mary, not Bible 2.0, Feb 5 2012
By Anea - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
As usual, this was another great read from Marek Halter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and this different look at Mary and her experience and life. Many other reviewers are stuck on the fact that this isn't identical to (or even in line with) what the Bible says (or what is generally accepted about Mary and her life). But that's good. And also correct - this isn't another of the same old rehashing of the same old boring story. This is a different story that puts Mary at the center, and her thoughts and experiences with her faith and journey. It makes you THINK. Which is why I would recommend this book for those looking for a story about the real Mary of Nazareth.
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