Lazarus (Hardcover)

by Morris L. West (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The Vatican trilogy that began with The Shoes of the Fisherman (1963) and The Clowns of God (1981) reaches a dramatic conclusion in West's bold limning of a modern pontiff presiding in a time of terrorism and violence. Leo XIV, a pope physically at risk as well as spiritually troubled, is unlike his warmly remembered predecessor, John XXIII. Reactionary and forbidding, out of touch with the faithful, Leo undergoes bypass surgery that puts him at the mercy of "Brother Death" and in the care of a Jewish Italian surgeon with Zionist connections. Amid political intrigue and counterespionage, both pope and physician become prime targets of Islamic terrorists. Convalescing, Leo experiences a "change of heart," considering abdication in favor of a simpler life. West's authoritative knowledge of labyrinthine Roman society provides a credible background for the gripping climax. Timely and absorbing, this novel will appear as the two earlier books are reissued in both hardcover and trade paperback. 150,000 first printing; $150,000 ad/promo; Literary Guild dual main selection; author tour.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
An Australian writer with a well-deserved international reputation, West has published more than 25 books in his 40-year career. His new novel completes his papacy trilogy, begun with The Shoes of the Fisherman (1963) and continued with The Clowns of God (1981)--and both still great "reads." A tense and exciting thriller, Lazarus also explores world crises and theological politics quite as fascinating to non-Catholics as to Catholics. At its heart is reactionary Pope Leo XIV, who emerges a changed man in an unchanged world when he simultaneously undergoes coronary bypass surgery and deals with the threat of assassination. While the book can be read as a complement to the other two novels, it stands alone as a superb, absorbing novel. Literary Guild dual main selection; previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 12/89.-- Mary Margaret Benson, Linfield Coll . Lib., McMinnville, Ore. correction: The review of Sam Llewel lyn's Death Roll (Summit Bks.) inadvertent ly appeared under the heading for Carolyn Llewellyn's The Lady of the Labryinth (Scribner) in the February 15 issue of LJ. The two books, with their correct headings, are reviewed in this issue, above.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 293 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; First Edition edition (March 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312043392
• ISBN-13: 978-0312043391
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,525,507 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book to read and think about., October 11, 2003

By	David Rasquinha (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Lazarus (Paperback)

Morris West's Lazarus is a cri de coeur in more ways than one. On a basic level, West has parlayed his own experience with life-saving cardiac surgery (and its impact on his life) into come up with an amazingly realistic account of the same transformation experienced by the Pope. On a deeper level, it is West's own plea for his beloved Catholic Church to break its self-imposed shackles of bureaucracy, rigid attitude and mechanistic rules and return to the basic metaphor of its founder : a shepherd caring for his flock of sheep.

This has been a consistent thrust of Morris West's writings, born out of his own experiences : a theme that is of course highly divisive. Many (like myself, admittedly) Catholics who considered the Second Vatican Council to be a long delayed awakening for the hierarchy, and the subsequent papal policies as a betrayal of the Council, will doubtless find ourselves in full agreement. I recognize at the same time that many persons of goodwill consider the Council as a step too far and view the retrenchments since then as advancements.

The Pope Leo of the book is not John Paul II of course, but his fundamental character is not far different. West envisages Leo as the stereotyped Curial bureaucrat who becomes a priest more from family expectations than any real calling, rises through the ranks and finds himself Pope with no real vision for the Church beyond the classical bureaucrat's respect for authority and rules. With this background, he (in all sincerity no doubt) rules with an iron hand, brooking no dissent and heedless of the human cost of his policies. Faced suddenly with the possibility of death, and applying the surgery as a metaphor for resurrection (like the Lazarus of the New Testament), Leo finds himself questioning the methods he has used and the contrary results of these methods. Pushing him, in facile counter-point, is the aged Cardinal Drexel who in experiencing the love of a foster family has been able to discern the withering of the Church and the yawning chasm between the hierarchy and the laity.

The storyline is thin, in fact it is clearly contrived by West to suit his line of argument, with the result that just about every stereotype finds a place. He does succeed in making his plaint however. How likely is such a situation? I wonder. The larger an organization (or a faith) grows, the more inevitable the need for sets of rules and procedures and we cannot return to the simplicity of earlier days, no matter how attractive they may appear. It is enough that West succeeds in making the reader participate in the debate, no matter which side of the argument. I highly recommend this book, irrespective of your stand on the questions, this is a book to read and think about.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lazarus lives., October 1, 2002

By	"gilspat" (Sarnia, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

I read this book on vacation. Many years ago I read "In The Shoes of the Fisherman" and "The Clowns of God." I enjoyed both of these books but not enought to search out and read the third book in the trilogy. What a mistake! This book contains the politics of power, the behind the scenes strugles and the fears and doubts as well as the faith and triumphs of the servants of the Vatican, as well as the Italian and international scene. The relationships both formed, forming and parting kept me glued to the book. The pace was fast and enthralling. Do not miss this book. The end was somewhat predictable, but never-the-less still shocking.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars On Life, Death and Love, July 6, 2000

By	Natwhilk (Jessheim Norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lazarus (Paperback)

Again, the Vatican: The ageing pontiff faces death unless the famous, Jewish doctor performs surgery immediately. The risk? Nothing much - it's like getting into a car or a plane. You accept the risk, then forget it. Turning down surgery carries swift - and certain - death, so the heir of the fisherman accepts.

Being under the knife brings the iron-fisted hard-liner to a personal crisis, and he emerges another man after having seen death in the eye - thus the title. But the statistical risk of not making it through surgery is infinitesimal - compared to becoming the target of professional assassins as they gather around their prey.

As often is with West, he combines quick action with personal trauma. And once again, he does it well. The thrill and the thoughts are both essential, and the book is worth reading. And, not surprisingly, a twist at the end.