Christ the Lord by Ann Rice

Fiction: Biblical/Historical. Hardback from Alfred A. Knopf. Published in 2005. On loan from the Kent District Library. 322 pages.

Wow. Just finished Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. Anne Rice obviously did a lot of research for the setting of this book. The Author's Note at the end was also very absorbing.

The book follows basically one year in the life of the child Jesus, and it is during that year that he figures out who he is. (Although he does it by disobeying his parents who have told him not to ask questions....hmmm.) Some of Rice's Catholic doctrine is apparent in the story, as one would expect. The question of when Jesus knew he was the Messiah is not one I've lingered on or been concerned about, and I doubt that this would really be how he figured it out, but it is a thought provoking read.

Publisher's summary:
Having completed the two cycles of legend to which she has devoted her career so far, Anne Rice gives us now her most ambitious and courageous book, a novel about the early years of CHRIST THE LORD, based on the Gospels and on the most respected New Testament scholarship.

The book’s power derives from the passion its author brings to the writing and the way in which she summons up the voice, the presence, the words of Jesus who tells the story.


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