Mary of Nazareth

by Marek Halter

Book Overview

The ancient world through the eyes of a young Jewish woman--Mary of Nazareth. Mary was born into a Palestine oppressed by Herod the Great; she is accustomed to living with uncertainty and unrest. But when her beloved father is wrongly imprisoned by the Romans, she takes action. She calls upon a well-known rebel by the name of Barabbas, and together they set out to save her father. A daring escape is planned. And against staggering odds, Mary's father...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307394840
• ISBN13: 9780307394842
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Mary not the one Christians know

In this book you meet Mary and her parents-Jochim and Hannah. You meet her neighbors,friends and you also meet Joseph. I was surprised that she also knows Barabbas. She is smart and goes to the Essenes for medical training. Family tragedy causes her to loose her way and she is at her wits end. She has a child and names him Jesus. She marries Joseph. She believes that her son will be and is a great man. She pushes him to reveal himself and seems to cause him an early death. You must realize that Halter is a JEW so this will not be the Mary Christians know. It is sad. Please read. I think you will like it. Is any of this true....I do not know.

Mary of Nazareth is an enthralling read

In his latest novelization of Biblical figures, author Marek Halter explores the life of the mother of Jesus, in Mary of Nazareth. He crafts a stunning portrayal that, while unlike the traditional views of the Biblical Mary, is endearing and fascinating. In a land oppressed by King Herod the Great and his Roman supporters, Miriam as she is known throughout the novel, is a daring child, equally devoted to her family as she is to seeking justice for her people. When King Herod's mercenaries descend on Nazareth looking for some rebels who destroyed a storehouse, Miriam encounters the enigmatic young thief Barabbas hiding in her father's house. She thwarts the soldiers' efforts to find him but by morning, the young man has disappeared. Years later, when Miriam's father, the carpenter Joachim is captured, she boldly seeks Barabbas' help to save her father from his ordeal on the cross. In a daring rescue attempt, Barabbas and his motley band save Joachim from the heavily guarded fortress of Tarichea. They flee under the cover of night. But a seed of rebellion takes root in the heart of the men, and her continued association with Barabbas threatens her future. For Miriam's safety, she separates from her parents and lives in Magdala for a time, where she studies. When rebellion against Herod leads to a tragic loss, Miriam despairs but finds strength in her studies and her hopes for the future. At home again in Nazareth and reunited with her family, Miriam embraces an unexpected destiny as the mother of Messiah. Miriam is at times, willful then obedient, passionate and yet patient. The author skillfully weaves the history of the period, the Biblical accounts of the life of Christ's mother and his research into an enthralling characterization. This book is a must read, with engaging characters and great attention to historical detail. I highly recommend Mary of Nazareth.

A different Mary - A real Mary

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.

A Strong Mary

Halter's imaginings create a portrait of Mary unlike any in recent works. She is a strong and passionate woman living in a male dominated world. She is an active participant in her world not content to sit idly by. Halter did a great job of laying the seeds of her story which after centuries of re-telling will grow into the Mary story told today.