Synopses & Reviews
The New York Times-bestselling author of Elizabeth I brilliantly reimagines the story of the most mysterious woman in the Bible
Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute, a female divinity figure, a church leader, or all of those? Biblical references to her are tantalizingly brief, but we do know that she was the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared—and the one commissioned to tell others the good news, earning her the ancient honorific, "Apostle to the Apostles." Today, Mary continues to spark controversy, curiosity, and veneration. In a vivid re-creation of Mary Magdalene's life story, Margaret George convincingly captures this renowned woman's voice as she moves from girlhood to womanhood, becomes part of the circle of disciples, and comes to grips with the divine. Grounded in biblical scholarship and secular research, this fascinating historical novel is also, ultimately, "the diary of a soul."
Review
"Colorful and involving....[George] is a powerful writer." The Washington Post
Review
A novel of great imagination. (San Jose Mercury News)
Review
Engaging and intelligent fiction that celebrates one of Christianity's great women. (Kirkus Reviews)
Review
Colorful and involving... [George] is a powerful writer. (The Washington Post) A novel of great imagination. (San Jose Mercury News) Engaging and intelligent fiction that celebrates one of Christianity's great women. (Kirkus Reviews)
Review
"Colorful and involving... [George] is a powerful writer." —
The Washington Post
"A novel of great imagination." —San Jose Mercury News
"Engaging and intelligent fiction that celebrates one of Christianity's great women." —Kirkus Reviews
"The premise of Ms. George's novel is intriguing...with rigorous research, [she] paints the landscape and rituals of Judea and makes 'educated guesses' about her mysterious subject." —The New York Times
"An expansive, thoughtful novel." —San Francisco Chronicle
Synopsis
The New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth I reveals the untold story of Mary Magdalene--a disciple of Jesus Christ and the most mysterious woman in the Bible.
Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute, a female divinity figure, a church leader, or all of those? Biblical references to her are tantalizingly brief, but we do know that she was the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared--and the one commissioned to tell others the good news, earning her the ancient honorific, "Apostle to the Apostles."
Today, Mary continues to spark controversy, curiosity, and veneration. In a vivid re-creation of Mary Magdalene's life story, Margaret George convincingly captures this renowned woman's voice as she moves from girlhood to womanhood, becomes part of the circle of disciples, and comes to grips with the divine.
While grounded in biblical scholarship and secular research, Mary, Called Magdalene ultimately transcends both history and fiction to become a "diary of a soul."
About the Author
Margaret George is the author of the bestselling The Autobiography of Henry VIII, Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles, and The Memoirs of Cleopatra, and is at work on a new novel about Helen of Troy. She has conducted research for her novels in places such as Egypt, Israel, Rome, and Greece.