The Gospel in Solentiname [Paperback]

Ernesto Cardenal (Author), Donald D. Walsh (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1982

Available for the first time in one volume, a classic commentary on the gospels in the spirit of liberation theology.

For many years, the peasants in Solentiname, a remote archipelago in Lake Nicaragua, gathered each Sunday to reflect on the gospel reading. From recordings of their dialogue, this extraordinary document was composed. First published in the 1970s in four volumes, it was immediately acclaimed as a classic expression of liberation theology a radical reading of the Good News of Jesus from the perspective of the poor and oppressed. (It was also banned by the Somoza dictatorship.) Forty years later, now available in one volume, The Gospel in Solentiname retains its freshness and power. Though times may have changed, the message of Jesus as heard by these peasants continues to challenge the rulers of our age, and to inspire the poor with the hope of a different world

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Ernesto Cardenal is a Nicaraguan priest and an internationally acclaimed poet. For ten years he lived in the Solentiname islands in Lake Nicaragua, where he established a community of artists, writers, and peasants. It was destroyed by the army. After the overthrow of the Somoza dictatorship, Father Cardenal served as Minister of Culture in the Sandinista government. His many books include Abide in Love. He lives in Managua. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 271 pages
• Publisher: Orbis Books (September 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0883441764
• ISBN-13: 978-0883441763
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,668,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece, October 20, 2011

By 

NanookMN "Iditarod" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Gospel in Solentiname (Paperback)

I almost let this book stay on the shelf. What a mistake that would have been! I shall be reading it for years. It is the discussion by simple people of gospel passages. The "characters" in the gospel passages were simple people. We tend to forget that and in the process often miss the message. Here's what William had to say about the Our Father:
We pray to God for his name to be holy, and it's up to us to make his
name holy. We pray for his kingdom to come, and it's up to us to build
it. We pray that his will be done on earth, and it's up to us to do his
will. We pray to him for bread, and it's up to us to make it and share it
We pray to him for forgiveness, and it's up to us to forgive. We pray not
to fall into evil, and it's up to us to escape from it.
Ernesto Cardenal provides solid biblical scholarship to the discussion, and he weaves the comments together with sensitivity. He is, after all, a poet.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Gospel through the eyes of the campesinos, November 8, 2011

By 

Corey Sharpe (Potomac, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Gospel in Solentiname (Paperback)

I am delighted to see this book back in print. The Gospel in Solentiname helps us re-read the Gospels through the eyes of Nicaraguan peasants. Their observations may come as a shock to those reading the same texts in a affluent suburban context. Rather than be dismissive or critical of these perceptions of the Gospel narratives, we should remember that Scripture was written from the perspective of the poor and the oppressed, and tells the story of a God who acts on their behalf. While liberation theology (like any theology) is not without its shortcomings, it is an important voice for the Church to hear. A wonderful new edition, containing wonderful art to go along with wonderful words.