The Return of the Goddess: A Divine Comedy (Paperback)

by Elizabeth Cunningham (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Combining an exploration of the mystical with an intellectual point of view, this strange but captivating novel measures the relationship between pagan rites and modern Christianity. Esther Peters, mousy wife of a charming yet domineering Episcopal priest in a small Hudson River town, unwittingly shakes the foundations of her existence finds her world turned upside-down when she uses her sons' homemade playdoughsp per galley to craft a small statue of a fertility goddess. Suddenly she finds herself attracted to an ex-pimp; drawn to the magical estate Blackwood, with its feisty mistress and enigmatic caretaker; and questioning her marriage as she begins to examine her own religious beliefs and earthly needs. Before long a new religion appears to be taking root. With solid characterizations and a fluid narrative, Cunningham ( The Wild Mother ) gracefully crosses the borders of plausibility into a luminous metaphysical realm. If her prose is at times overwrought and the plot chock-full of happy coincidences, these weaknesses are easily ignored in favor of generally fine storytelling that brings an imaginative twist to the often cliched theme of a woman's self-discovery.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
In the tradition of Bradley's The Mists of Avalon, this extraordinary novel describes the sudden reappearance of the erotic pagan goddess in the unlikely hands of an Episcopal minister's wife. Set in the atmospheric Hudson River Valley, the book tells the story of Esther Peters, who fashions an image out of Playdoh that will effectively transform her life and the lives of all around her. Spencer Crowe is a childless widow, bedridden and beset by greedy relations who lust to inherit Blackwood, her overgrown but valuable estate. Marvin Greene is an African American poker playing, tarot-reading, ex-convict, who recognizes the Lady as Luck and follows her surprising lead. And Fergus Hanrahan is the mysterious estate keeper who is connected to the enchantment of Blackwood. The full force of erotic love, the tension between paganism and Christianity, and the depiction of the feminine as the preserver of the earth all resonate in this powerful work of magic realism. Cunningham's contemporary treatment of the popular goddess theme is unique in present-day fiction, and her powers of storytelling make this a book that will speak to myriad readers, both male and female.

Product Details

• Paperback: 388 pages
• Publisher: Station Hill Press (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882681575
• ISBN-13: 978-0882681573
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #181,863 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Goddess is dancing..., January 27, 1999

By A Customer

I love this book. I've read it so much that the pages are almost all dog eared. I've given copies of it to 6 of my friends and have loaned mine to at least five others. Elizabeth Cunningham is a fantastic storyteller and she leads us on a journey through a woman's spirit, awakening to the power of her self. It is a hard journey, but a worthwhile one, and you'll laugh all the way through until you cry at the end. Beautiful, poetic writing and outrageously funny realism combine to make this a "can't put it down 'til I'm done" kind of book. The Goddess dances across the pages and into your heart as you read it, and the book leaves you with a sense of hope and a feeling that somehow, someway, justice will always be done. Thanks, Elizabeth Cunningham, for the book that always picks me up when I'm in a low place.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Fiction for Goddess Lovers, January 2, 2001

By A Customer

A wonderful novel for both people who want an introduction to the Goddess as well as those who already are faithful believers. I agree with the other reviewers who say this book is meant to be reread and reread. As a true believer, I would send this to my circle friends,but I would also feel comfortable and sharing it with friends who don't know about female centered religions.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is my all-time favorite book., August 4, 1999

By A Customer

THE RETURN OF THE GODDESS is my all-time favorite book. Author Robert Kelly called it a "celebration of how four remarkable people grow into godhood, the journal all love tries to make". I grew to love these four unforgetable characters. The story is also called "a divine comedy", and I laughed my way through it. I celebrated Esther's journey to self discovery and personal growth--and related to it--and most women can. THE RETURN OF THE GODDESS begins on Halloween night, and so I re-read it every October. The imagery--sights, sounds, smells--bring this book to life. Every time I read it, I envision this story made into a movie--it would be wonderful! Thank-you, Elizabeth Cunningham, for bringing these characters and this town to life.