Judas: Gospel of Betrayal [Paperback]

Frederick Ramsay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010

Boy Judas Iscariot struggles to understand his mother’s god. Despairing, he becomes a survivor in the streets of the first century Roman empire. Later, determined to avenge the wrongs committed against his mother and sister, he returns to join the rebels led by Barabbas, only to be betrayed again. Broken, he is brought to the Zealots at Qumran and eventually to the Rabbi Jesus. During this journey he discovers God and is baptized into messianic anticipation. His enthusiasm for revolution leads him to out-guess God. He proceeds down a path that will result in a difficult and fateful choice.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ramsay, an Episcopalian priest, is not the first author to take on one of the New Testament’s most intriguing characters. (See the Read-alikes column on Judas that appeared in the December 1, 2007, issue of Booklist.) But this particularly readable attempt to tell Judas’ story in the form of a historical novel is notable for its imaginative use of biblical incidents to give readers a different way to think about the Bible’s biggest villain. Here Judas is the illegitimate child of a Jewish woman and a Roman soldier. His mother is eventually reduced to prostitution, and Judas grows up among thieves and whores. His thirst for revenge against those who abused his mother and young sister leads Judas to some bad places but eventually to Jesus, where his apostolic role is not what he supposes. If there’s any complaint to be made about the book, it’s that it’s too short, especially at the end, where readers will want to hear more about the familiar cast of characters. Ramsay’s observations about the roles of women in biblical society make the novel a good choice for book clubs. --Ilene Cooper

Review

"If there’s any complaint to be made about the book, it’s that it’s too short, especially at the end, where readers will want to hear more about the familiar cast of characters. Ramsay’s observations about the roles of women in biblical society make the novel a good choice for book clubs."  -- Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Perfect Niche; 2 edition (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096775903X
• ISBN-13: 978-0967759036
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,258,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)