The Confessions of Judas [Paperback]

Michael Dickinson (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 124 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris Corp; 1st edition (May 8, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738820660
• ISBN-13: 978-0738820668
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,924,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Book of Revelations, June 6, 2000

By 

Alexander Burke (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Confessions of Judas (Paperback)

Poor old Jesus. His image took a few literary knocks in the 1900s. There was Schweitzer's Quest for the Historical Jesus which raised early hackles; The Last Temptation of Christ by Kazantzakiz, plus the Scorsese film version; not to mention Terence McNally's Corpus Christi, or the court case brought against Britain's Gay News in the seventies for publishing James Kirkup's `blasphemous' poem.

Now, just as it seemed Christian Fundamentalist's hackles could get no higher, along comes THE CONFESSIONS OF JUDAS by Michael Dickinson, which lands several unguarded blows below the Bible belt.

And this one doesn't pull any punches. In 120 pages, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are out for the count, no contest against the stunning "kiss-and-tell" revelations that the miracles were faked publicity stunts; the Virgin Birth a terrified girl's invention; and even the Crucifixion and Resurrection cunning feats of deception orchestrated by this gentle Judas.

Instead of hanging himself after the events Christians commemorate every Easter, Judas hangs out in the tomb vacated by the "resurrected" Lazarus, from where he narrates his version in a letter addressed to the puzzled, half-aware Peter - a confession which rolls away stone after stone, revealing quite a different story from the one we learned at Sunday School.

The boot here is on the other foot, and perhaps in this age of anti-heroes it was about time that probably the greatest anti-hero of them all - the arch-traitor Judas Iscariot - condemned by Dante to the very lowest pit in Hell - should finally get the chance to speak in his own defense.

What emerges is a story simply and clearly told, entirely convincing and logical in its exposition, and one cannot help but pity the totally devoted and well-meaning disciple, swept helplessly along in the train of events he unleashes, bound to end in his own ruin at the expense of his Master's fame.

A short preface claims the book to be the translation of a secret, centuries-old document smuggled out of the Vatican, but I reckon that should be taken with a large pinch of salt and a firm tongue in cheek.

Nevertheless, THE CONFESSIONS OF JUDAS is a brave, controversial and original novel which would definitely have been on the Vatican's List of Banned Books a few years ago, and the bonfire before that. Thank God (for want of a better word), we are now allowed to read what we like.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A good idea that missed the mark., June 24, 2003

By 

"trichomoniasis" (Chernobyl) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Confessions of Judas (Paperback)

What could have been developed into a rewarding digression from the established mythology instead fatally suffers from pedestrianism. This books reads like the author just finished a writer's workshop. Trite, unoriginal writing leaves the reader wondering whether to turn the page or stop wasting time and move on to something more worthwhile. Not to mention the abundant typos in the printing. Argh. If you want something along this line, pick up Kazantzakis' 'The Last Temptation of Christ'. You'll find your time far better spent with someone who truly knows his craft.