The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ

Critics

• The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ

  The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, Philip Pullman, Canongate, RRP£7.99, 265 pages This retelling of the gospel story posits Christ as the twin brother of Jesus, who skulks in the background, torn by envy and admiration for his brother’s rel ... (read full critics)

  ft published on Sat, 4 Jun 2011

• The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ

  The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, Philip Pullman, Canongate, RRP£7.99, 265 pages This retelling of the gospel story posits Christ as the twin brother of Jesus, who skulks in the background, torn by envy and admiration for his brother’s rel ... (read full critics)

  ft published on Sat, 4 Jun 2011

6 Reviews

• 

  Clever book which left me with a lot of questions.

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  Top of the pile said on Sep 27, 2011 about the Hardcover edition | Add your feedback

• 

  I loved Pullman's other works and was very excited about this book, but I was a little disappointed. Whilst it is written well, and has great potential as a story and a twist on the traditional bible stories I felt a lot of the book was simply re-telling of these stories with little added. I wonder ... (continue)

  I loved Pullman's other works and was very excited about this book, but I was a little disappointed. Whilst it is written well, and has great potential as a story and a twist on the traditional bible stories I felt a lot of the book was simply re-telling of these stories with little added. I wonder if perhaps this is due to my own lack of in depth knowledge of the bible so as to miss any subtle differences. However I very much liked his take on the resurrection and wish the rest of the book could have been as creative as this episode.

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  Nefercharlie said on Jul 10, 2011 | Add your feedback

• 

  Really not sure what the author was trying to acheive, quite thought provoking in some aspects, but my main feeling was that it was a bit of a waste of time not likely to sway any believers mind too much and really just re-enforces what I dare say the vast majority of readers of this book already be ... (continue)

  Really not sure what the author was trying to acheive, quite thought provoking in some aspects, but my main feeling was that it was a bit of a waste of time not likely to sway any believers mind too much and really just re-enforces what I dare say the vast majority of readers of this book already believe.

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  Lee Johnston said on Mar 21, 2011 | Add your feedback

• 

  Too bad

  I am always curious when someone promises an interesting new perspective on the gospels. And even if the 'theory' that is the result of such an exercise is not so plausible, it can make for an entertaining story. Philip Pullman's The Good Man Jesus... disappoints on both accounts.
  The idea t ... (continue)

  I am always curious when someone promises an interesting new perspective on the gospels. And even if the 'theory' that is the result of such an exercise is not so plausible, it can make for an entertaining story. Philip Pullman's The Good Man Jesus... disappoints on both accounts.
  The idea that Jesus Christ was in fact two persons is not new. It is an old gnostic myth and Pullman must have thought that it would be interesting to explore the narrative consequences of that idea. Unfortunately, the result is very implausible. His story does not lead to a different (or deeper, or better) understanding of the story of Jesus. It is just another story that is as speculative as the original is supposed to be. It does not explain anything, unless you believe what Pullman has to say. But why would you?
  As a story the result is at times acceptable, but never very good. The characters are rather shallow vessels to convey the message that Pullman want to bring home: that the church has subverted the original message of 'the good man' Jesus. If this topic interests you, I advise you to consider Lenoirs 'The Philosophy of Christ' or another work of non-fiction.

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  Corstin said on Dec 2, 2010 about the Hardcover edition | Add your feedback

• 

  Disappointed

  In the last few years Philip Pullman has been producing some unremarkable books. I could understand the "Dark Materials" novellas (Lyra's Oxford and Once Upon a Time in the North) which could somehow satisfy some nostalgic fans. "The Good Man..." is however pretty hard to justify: a half-baked re-re ... (continue)

  In the last few years Philip Pullman has been producing some unremarkable books. I could understand the "Dark Materials" novellas (Lyra's Oxford and Once Upon a Time in the North) which could somehow satisfy some nostalgic fans. "The Good Man..." is however pretty hard to justify: a half-baked re-reading of the gospels. An implausible version of an implausible story. Yes, the idea of splitting the contrasting personalities of Jesus that emerge from the new testament into two different characters is probably a good idea. But beyond that, the only remarkable passages concern the contrasting visions of the future church: well written and concise, but more of an author commentary that a coherent part of the story. Overall the narrative is inconsistent, with brilliant passages that leave the reader disappointed with the rest.

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  Paolo said on May 4, 2010 about the Hardcover edition | Add your feedback

• 

  I bought this?

  I dont really know or care about the bible.
  If this came out 10 years ago then maybe big stir up, but not really nower days!
  not what I expected from old P pullman.
  Didn't grip me, had to force myself to finish it as a had stupidly bought the damn thing!

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  Ebony Rose said on Apr 12, 2010 about the Hardcover edition | Add your feedback

Book Details

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• English Books
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• ISBN-10: 1847678297
• ISBN-13: 9781847678294
• Pub date: Jun 02, 2011
• Also available as: Hardcover and eBook

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