The Book of Mary - by Alan Gold (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

She's the most famous woman in history, yet almost nothing is known about her. Although she's portrayed as the gentlest and most tragic of all women, her name has been used as an excuse for internecine hatred and wars between peoples.

But who was Mary, mother of Jesus Christ? What type of family did she have? What was the community like in which she grew from child to teenager forced to marry a man three times her age?

And why have virtually all the details of her early life been obscured and censored by the writers of the Bible?

In The Book of Mary, novelist Alan Gold looks at first century Israel under the iron heels of Roman occupation and uncovers what life was like for a young woman in a distant outpost of the most aggressive and merciless Empire in history. Following Mary's story from teenager to a young woman married to a widower, to mother, and then to become a devotee of the new religion her Son had created. This tragic yet virtually unknown woman is forced to witness the excruciating pain of her son's crucifixion.

Review Quotes

"For the first time, I feel like the story of the Passion, of Christ's mission to redeem the world and save our souls, is real, and no longer part of ancient history. I first learned about Christianity in school, and it always felt detached to me. Now that I've read Alan's book, I feel I can understand the true historical perspective of Jesus, his mother Mary and all the other disciples. Thank you. You've opened my eyes." Roger Simona, London

"I'm an atheist, and nothing which Mr. Gold has written has altered my view, and I have the strong feeling, too, that the author is also a non-believer. As an historical novel about the most famous woman who ever lived, this is a brilliant and amazing eye-opening book. He takes out the holy stuff from 1^st Century Christianity, and shows the human side of all of the participants...Jesus, Mary, and all of the followers. This book should be required reading for all priests and ministers. Perhaps then we'll get some sense when they preach sermons." Virginia McKenna, Glasgow, Scotland

"'Like a Virgin' is a riveting book, full of minutely researched facts, which the author spins into an intricate and compelling story, but never letting the facts, or his knowledge of the period of Roman occupation, stand in the way of the tale he tells. I'd never thought of Jesus, or Mary, or the Apostles, or Mary Magdalene as anything more than religious characters in Christ's story; but now, thanks to the author, I view them as real life men and women, struggling against the cruelty of Roman occupiers, as well as the Temple hierarchy determined to maintain the status quo. Thanks, Alan, for a triumphant book." Penny Trevor, Los Angeles, Ca.