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2014 Longlist

The Testament of Mary

ABOUT
THE BOOK

In the ancient town of Ephesus, Mary lives alone, years after her son’s crucifixion. She has no interest in collaborating with the authors of the Gospel-her keepers, who provide her with food and shelter and visit her regularly. She does not agree that her son is the Son of God; nor that his death was “worth it;” nor that the “group of misfits he gathered around him, men who could not look a woman in the eye,” were holy disciples. Mary judges herself ruthlessly (she did not stay at the foot of the Cross until her son died-she fled, to save herself), and is equally harsh on her judgement of others. This woman who we know from centuries of paintings and scripture as the docile, loving, silent, long-suffering, obedient, worshipful mother of Christ becomes a tragic heroine with the relentless eloquence of Electra or Medea or Antigone. Tóibín’s tour de force of imagination and language is a portrait so vivid and convincing that our image of Mary will be forever transformed.

 

Librarians’  Comments

A meditation on religion, gender politics and motherhood – not for the faint hearted.

A view of the events which led to the Crucifixion from the point of view of Mary as a mother.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Colm
Tóibín

Colm Tóibín was born in Ireland in 1955 and lives in Dublin. He is the author of ten novels, three of which were nominated for the Booker Prize, two collections of stories and many works of non-fiction. His most recent novel, The Magician, was a top ten bestseller and was winner of the Rathbones Folio Award. In 2021, he was awarded the David Cohen Prize. He is the current Laureate for Irish Fiction.

 

 

Colm Tóibín was born in Ireland in 1955 and lives in Dublin. He is the author of ten novels, three of which were nominated for the Booker Prize, two collections of stories and many works of non-fiction. His most recent novel, The Magician, was a top ten bestseller and was winner of the Rathbones Folio Award. In 2021, he was awarded the David Cohen Prize. He is the current Laureate for Irish Fiction.

 

 

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

A meditation on religion, gender politics and motherhood – not for the faint hearted.

A view of the events which led to the Crucifixion from the point of view of Mary as a mother.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
04/07/2013
Author
Publisher
Scribner

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