Used Book Alerts 
The Secret Magdalene
by KI Longfellow
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About This Book
ISBN13: 9780307346667 |
Synopses & Reviews
Publisher Comments:
Raised like sisters, Mariamne and Salome are indulged with riches, position, and learning-a rare thing for females in Jerusalem. But Mariamne has a further gift: an illness has left her with visions; she has the power of prophecy. It is her prophesying that drives the two girls to flee to Egypt, where they study philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy in the Great Library of Alexandria.
After seven years they return to a Judaea where many now believe John the Baptizer is the messiah. Salome too begins to believe, but Mariamne, now called Magdalene, is drawn to his cousin, Yeshu’a, a man touched by the divine in the same way she was during her days of illness. Together they speak of sharing their direct experience of God; but Yeshu’a unexpectedly gains a reputation as a healer, and as the ill and the troubled flock to him, he and Magdalene are forced to make a terrible decision.
This radical retelling of the greatest story ever told brings Mary Magdalene to life-not as a prostitute or demon-possessed-but as an educated woman who was truly the “apostle to the apostles.”
Review:
"Vermont novelist Longfellow (China Blues; Chasing Women) places Mary Magdalene at the center of the origin of Christian thought. As this vividly imagined novel opens, 'Mariamne,' the daughter of a wealthy Jewish aristocrat, is a gifted child with a love of learning who hears prophetic voices. Because privileged girls in Jerusalem are not raised to be scholars, Mariamne must indulge her passion in secret, accompanied by her slave, Tata, and her father's ward, Salome. Mariamne and Salome eventually run away to Alexandria, where they study in the great library, and into the wilderness, where Salome devotes herself to John the Baptizer. Meanwhile, Mariamne is drawn to Yeshu (Jesus), with whom she shares a brief earthly love and prolonged discussions of gnosis — the experience of direct personal insight into the divine. Together, they envision the events that lead to the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. Reimagining such famous episodes as the healing of Lazarus, the wedding at Cana and Judas's betrayal, Longfellow sees Yeshu and his apostles from a feminist perspective. Longfellow (who first published this novel in 2005 at a small startup press named for Mariamne's donkey, Eio) is more passionate about research and philosophy than plot or character. Readers looking for a fast-paced thriller will be disappointed." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
Review:
“A beautifully written book, immaculately researched. It moved me to tears . . . I felt if this is not how it was, it is certainly how it should have been.” –BookCrossing.com
Review:
“Highly original and highly engaging, The Secret Magdalene is a sweeping yet intimate tale, an emotional and intellectual journey that questions everything, including the real nature of Jesus.” –India Edghill, author of Wisdom’s Daughter
Review:
“Imaginative, well-researched, and full of profound wisdom, this wonderful novel brings the ancient world to life.” –Timothy Freke, co author of The Laughing Jesus
Review:
“In The Secret Magdalene Ki Longfellow portrays Jesus and Mary Magdalene of the Gnostic Gospel tradition-two great teachers whose friendship blossoms within the political turmoil of first century Palestine. What The DaVinci Code only hinted at, Longfellow brings to life.” –Rebecca Kohn, author of The Gilded Chamber
Synopsis:
This radical retelling of the greatest story ever told brings Mary Magdalene to life--not as a prostitute or demon-possessed--but as an educated woman who was truly the "apostle to the apostles."
What Our Readers Are Saying
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Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
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panacks, January 10, 2008 (view all comments by panacks)
You can tell when a book is going to stick around. This is one of them. No flash in the pan, no riding on the back of other books. It's unique. The Secret Magdalene is not only a work of literature, it's an adventure, a quest, a study in character, and deeply meaningful. It would take reading a lot more than once to get from it all it has to offer. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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a seeker, March 23, 2007 (view all comments by a seeker)
This is a splendid book. Not only is it so well written and not only does it tell an old and wonderful story in a new and wonderful way, but it is full of deep and abiding wisdom. Highly recommended.
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California Dreamer, February 12, 2007 (view all comments by California Dreamer)
I don't understand the Publisher's Weekly review. The Secret Magdalene has a wonderful plot (made famous in the Bible) and extended by Ms. Longfellow's rich imagination, and the characters jump from the page and come to life. And why they should expect it to read like a "fast-paced thriller" is beyond me, unless the Da Vinci Code is the new standard for stories about Mary Magdalene. That would be unfortunate, as this wonderful book is deeply moving, filled with adventures, adds a marvelous twist to the original gospel tale, and is even inspiring in its exploration of the mysteries of Christian origins. A delightful book by all accounts.
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Product Details
- ISBN:
- 9780307346667
- Publisher:
- Libri
- Subject:
- Historical - General
- Author:
- Subject:
- Women in the bible
- Subject:
- Christian women saints
- Publication Date:
- March 2007
- Binding:
- Hardcover
- Language:
- English
- Pages:
- 434
- Dimensions:
- 9.40x6.40x1.49 in. 1.52 lbs.
