Barabbas [Paperback]

Par Lagerkvist (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 20, 1989

Barabbas is the acquitted; the man whose life was exchanged for that of Jesus of Nazareth, crucified upon the hill of Golgotha. Barabbas is a man condemned to have no god. "Christos Iesus" is carved on the disk suspended from his neck, but he cannot affirm his faith. He cannot pray. He can only say, "I want to believe."

Translated from the Swedish by Alan Blair

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Its power is the power of a parable, with the same timeless echo." -- The New York Times

"As a parable, Barabbas is open to many interpretations. As a picture of a human soul, with or without parable, it is moving and convincing." -- Time

"Swift, sparing, limpid, and hauntingly intense." -- Atlantic Monthly

Language Notes

Text: English, Swedish (translation)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Vintage; 1st Vintage International ed edition (November 20, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067972544X
• ISBN-13: 978-0679725442
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.4 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tracing the footsteps of death, August 25, 2005

By 

Newton Ooi (Phoenix, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Barabbas (Paperback)

This short novel by Scandinavian Nobel Prize winner Par Lagerkvist fills in a little hole left open by the Bible; specifically, what happens to Barabbas after the crowd chooses to crucify Jesus and spare his life. The book begins with Barabbas being freed. He is in a state of bewilderment, and something within him leads him to follow Christ to the cross, where he witnesses the death. Afterwards, he tries to pick up the pieces of his life and wanders through town. By coincidence, he encounters some of the 12 apostles at a small cafe without knowing who they are, though they know who he is. When he discovers their identities, he is somewhat drawn to them yet repulsed by their poorly-concealed anger. In quick succession, he witnesses the stoning of a female friend, works as a laborer on a wealthy estate, and travels to Rome. There he sees Rome burn down around him, discovers that this was done on orders of the emperor to be blamed on the Jews. He is captured along with some Jews (some of whom he recognizes from Golgotha) and killed.

The story is easy to read, yet delivers a very strong emotional impact. The different individuals Barabbas encounters are shown as very human, with faults and frailties that make the reader empathizes with them. The apostles that Barabbas meet are not Biblical heroes in any sense of the word, but grieving friends who wrench their hearts to try and not bear ill-will towards him. The various Roman soldiers and officials are shown as all too human; some cruel, some sympathetic towards the Jews and others apathetic.

The theme of death is pervasive throughout the book, as it starts with the death of Christ and ends with the death of Barabbas. Death seems to follow Barabbas at every step. He somehow feels this, but does not try to run; he has nowhere and noone to run to. Nearly all the people he meets end up dying; often at the hand of others. As such, the book not only portrays a man, but a society that places little value on life, less than that placed on money, law, order, revenge, honor, etc... Death is truly inescapable in the life of Barabbas, and he comes to realize near the end of the book that it is not how or when you die, but what you die for, something Christ tried to show him and everyone else at the beginning of the book.

In all, one of the best books by this Nobel Prize-winning author. This English translation is easy to understand; the story flows smoothly, the dialogue is simple, and human emotions are conveyed but with strength and subtlety. I highly recommend this book.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly great character and a story to remember!, June 28, 2000

By 

Fernando Beirão (Santos, SP - BRAZIL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Barabbas (Paperback)

I first found this book by accident, while browsing through the Amazon.com book lists. Then one day I found it in a shelf here in Brazil and decided to buy it. At first sight it didn't seem to be a very impressive book, especially because it was so thin. However, I must say I was totally "hooked" by the style of Mr. Lagerkvist.

He is so economical in his writing, that basically almost every one of his sentences or descriptions carry a lot of "weight". I believe the power of his writing comes from his "raw" style. It's such a short phrase or description, but yet so powerful, that several times I stopped to reflect about that part or caught myself thinking about it at a later time.

As you must have already know, this is the story of Barabbas, who was a terrible criminal and escaped the "Death Row" of his time, because Jesus was chosen to die in his place.

It is a beautiful story, because unlike many modern writers, Mr. Lagerkvist never tries to build a "hero" or any of the things I read a lot in these books for writers I tend to buy. He also never "melts" over emotional passages that could lead to a "hollywood drama" scene...

We basically follow this miserable and damned being, through the rest of his existence, as he tries to understand the life of the stranger called Jesus and at the same time find some clue about his pointless existence.

I can even say I am a bit suspect to praise this book, since I have this major crush on books about redemption or deep and lonely characters. It is always nice to read a book which touches the human condition with such objectivity.

Oh, and this book has a very powerful and beautiful end. If you found this book and is still reading this review, I believe you should probably buy it. I have no doubt this is a book worth reading!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A massive subject in a few pages, January 13, 2000

By 

Frank-Tommy Olsen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Barabbas (Paperback)

Barabbas, the ultimate sinner, the one human being Jesus literally died for on the cross. Magnificently portrayed by Lagerkvist, true to the biblical story and still very subtly questioning every truth, including the great truth of the Bible. Lagerkvist shows humanity's need and search for belief. Barabbas wants to believe. Others do believe and have their own truth, their own morals. They are self-claimed Christians but often hypocrites and not necessarily very good people. A story in the story, the unfortunate looking girl with the hare-lip, but with a good heart, being loathed and condemned. And at the same time the blind man condemning the "bad" people, but not accepting any responsibility for whatever happens, because "he is blind, he can't see anything, he only say what he hears..." I wondered whether I should give the book four or five stars, and easily decided on five, because Lagerkvist handles the subject with such care and respect, without making some sensational fairy tale out of this biblical event, which might have tempted others. Instead we accept it as a very genuine story and happily believe that this is Barabbas' story, and could just as well have been a part of the Bible. The capturing of the atmosphere in Jerusalem after the crucifixion is totally convincing. Also, in showing these very fine but simple portraits of humanity, Lagerkvist proved a very rare and deep understanding of human beings. Highly recommended!