Customer Reviews

Great Lion of God.

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a fascinating, moving and spiritual story about St. Paul and the life and times of the Jews, Romans and early Christians during the time of Jesus and shortly thereafter. Its many quotations from and references to the Bible makes it seem very accurate in terms of adherence to historical events. I'd like to know if there are any sources to support her many details of Saul's (St. Paul's) life that are not found in the Bible. Some of them are very hard to believe, but made the book interesting and hard to put down. I was very impressed by the author's ability to describe St. Paul's (and other's) inner feelings, as well as her descriptions of the landscapes and cities of the time. I'm looking forward to reading some of her other works.

I finally read this book, having attempted it once. I finished it just before going to Italy and Greece. Caldwell truly is one of the few writers today who can compare to the great storytellers of the past...Dickens, Hugo, etc. Her language is poetic and rich, and the stories believable. I thrilled to her descriptions of Romans, Greeks and Jews. I appreciate her research, her sense of respect for spirituality, and I adore the quality of her writing. I recommend all of her books, but would try "Glory and the Lightning" and "Dear and Glorious Physician" or "Devil's Advocate" before this. Then go for this and follow it up with a trip to Italy, Greece or the Holy Land.

This was my first Caldwell book and I loved it. Caldwell is poetic and elequent. She teaches the reader about The Greeks, Romans, Jews and Paul and how he was received by the early church and why. I recomend this book to anyone who is interested in the Roman Empire, the origin of the church or Christ.

"For he was a veritable lion, a red lion, the great lion of God."

Thus part one of this magnificent book starts with a quote about St. Paul by St. Augustine. I first read this book as a book report project when I was in ninth grade in the late 1970s. At the time, it was a life-changing book for me.

I learned from Caldwell about St. Paul the man - that he was a man of great passion, of fire and of longing. One who says what needs to be said no matter what the consequences to himself. Hah - one who can't help but say what needs to be said, actually! After reading this book I could never read or hear St. Paul's New Testament letters the same way. Now when I hear them read in church or read them on my own, I see the man of passion behind these letters. For this gift I am most grateful to Taylor Caldwell.

The book is a biography of St. Paul told in the form of a narrated story that begins with his birth and ends with him heading for Rome; a not dissimilar ending as that of the Acts of the Apostles, where Paul is in Rome waiting judgement by Caesar.

A good book. One of my favorites. So well written and so desiring to engage the reader that this book helped me get an "A+" on my long-ago ninth grade book report. :-)

I read Great Lion of God in High School <gasp> over 10 years ago and reread it recently because I could not forget the bright, powerful and adventurous world that Taylor Caldwell described so vividly. I wasn't disappointed. However, I will warn you... This book is heavy. If you can make yourself get through the first 50 pages (she sets up her characters well), you won't be able to put it down.

"Great Lion Of God" is a novel based on the life of St. Paul, with the emphasis on "novel." I have become accustomed to books which try to place the reader into the Biblical world of the featured character. This book makes an effort, but without the research necessary to bring it off. "Great Lion Of God" does remind the reader that St. Paul was a member of a family, had friends and a place in the Jewish world. So long as the reader reminds himself that this is fiction, he is in for an entertaining read.

This was the very first biographical novel I read by Taylor Caldwell. She can tell a story like no one else. After reading this book when it first came out in 1970, I couldn't wait to devour everything else she has written. Her forte seems to be novels based on the lives of historical people. Great Lion of God is about St. Paul, Dear and Glorious Physician about St. Luke, Pillar of iron about Cicero, another about Genghis Khan, etc. These are just the beginning for this prodigous writer. She says in the foreward of one of her famous novels that she had translated the original latin and greek herself at the Vatican and other sources. That impressed the hell out of me! She is a great storyteller. Pick up any of her books and you are in for a treat.

Thanks to Amazon for the quick response to my whim for a re-read of that wonderful Taylor Caldwell volume from the '70s. Based on the life of the Apostle Paul, "Great Lion of God" was soon at my door. My order was filled right away; what a bargain I got! With so little effort, almost the snap of my fingers, and I'm enjoying my book just a few short days later!

The book is super great. My brother and sister, who live in Costa Rica and don't speak English have read the book in Spanish, now I can have a great conversation with them about the book all because of your service.

Thank you.

One of my all time great books based on the life of the apostle Paul - Taylor Caldwell produced a masterpiece!