Crucified Under Pontius Pilate [Paperback]

George D. LeMaitre (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 423 pages
• Publisher: Infinity Publishing (August 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0741416158
• ISBN-13: 978-0741416155
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,648,945 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice!, November 15, 2003

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crucified Under Pontius Pilate (Paperback)

Pilate stands against the panorama of history as a spot of gray; not quite a villain, but certainly no hero. He has been portrayed as a tyrant by some, a man caught in the middle by others, and declared a saint in a few circles. The truth is most likely a mixture of the three, as proposed in this novel.

Beginning several years after the Resurrection, the story is told by Claudia, Pilate's wife who is said to have warned him not to sentence Christ to death. By now, the couple has returned to Rome and is witnessing the beginnings of the mysterious religious movement called Christianity. At first, it means little to them, but as time passes, curiousity grows, until Pilate is driven to return to Judea and try to reconstruct the life of Jesus, whom he bareely recalls. There he meets the original disciples and those who now follow. As he begins to remember and learn, both Pilate and Claudia are transformed.

*** Much has been written of late of the early church. While this novel will doubtlessly play to a smaller audience than a more popular book, it is superior in its portrayal of the men and women who followed Christ at the outset. Most notably, the author has shown clearly how Jesus can change the lives of those He touches, no matter how far they have fallen. ***

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crucified Under Pontius Pilate, January 27, 2004

By 

Mary Guziejka and Edward Guziejka, author of ... (Dracut, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crucified Under Pontius Pilate (Paperback)

Crucified Under Pontius Pilate, written by Dr.George LeMaitre is a treasure trove of Ancient History with a seamless joining and blending of fact and fiction as told by Claudia Procula, the loving and dedicated wife of Pontius Pilate. Pontius Pilate, known intimately as "Pilatus", and his feelings, spilled out onto every page: his wondering, depression, and anxiety were truly real. While reading, one could feel his agony. Should he or shouldn't he have ordered the execution of Jesus Christ? That is the big question that follows Pontius Pilate to his grave.
For Ancient History buffs and students of Religion, information seekers, believers, defenders, and questioners, for those wanting desperately to know the answers to whether the Jews, Jewish Priests, or the Romans crucified Christ or whether all Christians were first Jews and then Christians, for those wanting to know how the transition happened, how long this situation took to resolve itself, if it is indeed resolved even today, for those looking for clear cut, definitive answers to questions that formed two thousand years ago, this book is a "must read".
"Crucified Under Pontius PIlate"" explodes as a metaphor of what is happening in our world today: excessive drinking, gambling, sex abuse, child molestations, briberies and murders. Furthermore, the ability to use a woman as the speaker is handled so well, so cleverly done, by Dr. LeMaitre, that not once would you imagine Claudia to be anything but a loving, thoughtful, kind, brilliant woman standing by her husband under times of stress and deep agony of mind.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great historical novel, December 19, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crucified Under Pontius Pilate (Paperback)

History condemns Pontius Pilate as the executioner of Jesus, though to the Roman Prefect of Judea from 27-37 AD at that time his victim was just one more Jew crucified. After his decade in Judea, he returned to Rome accompanied as always by his wife Claudia of five decades to serve as a minor government worker. When Jews and Christians move into his sector of Rome, debates occur over the new religion. Pontius learns that the Christians were followers of a Jesus Christ, who he had crucified when he ruled in Judea. He and Claudia return to Judea to learn more about Jesus, but find a divided populace. Was he the messiah, a superstar prophet, or a PR charlatan? As Pontius begins to change his beliefs, he mentally breaks down due to feeling guilt over his role in the murder of Jesus.

CRUCIFIED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE: THE PARTIALLY RECOVERED MEMOIRS OF HIS BELOVED WIFE CLAUDIA will turn up on the short lists of best historical novel of 2004 by those fortunate to read it. Claudia's fictionalized account is an insightful work of fiction that provides a deep look at the secular Roman Empire, the monotheistic Judea, and several polytheistic kingdoms. It illustrates real events and actions of historical persona especially her husband. The Jews are an interesting people clearly divided over Jesus while the Romans seem bewildered by the whole affair. Finally of course there is Jesus as seen through several individuals but especially Pontius (through his wife's memoirs) looking back at what he wrought. This is a fantastic tale filled with historical personage and a feel for the era that hooks the audience throughout.

Harriet Klausner