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The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (Canongate Myths series Book 16) Kindle Edition

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 1,100 ratings

'If I vanished he wouldn't notice, if I died he wouldn't care. I think of him all the time, and he thinks of me not at all. I love him, and my love torments me. There are times when I feel like a ghost beside him; as if he alone is real, and I'm just a daydream.'



This is the story of two brothers.

One is impassioned and one reserved.

One is destined to go down in history and the other to be forgotten.



In Pullman's hands, this sacred tale is reborn as one of the most enchanting, thrilling and visionary stories of recent years.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This gospel retelling is relatively faithful in style, time line, and events to the four canonical gospels-though Pullman injects a very Pullman-like spin on it by splitting Jesus Christ into two men, among other creative twists. Twin babies are born of the virgin Mary, one called Jesus, the other Christ. After a childhood in which Christ is a goody-goody and Jesus the popular one, Jesus and Christ continue down separate but intertwined paths, with Christ sneaking around, spying on Jesus's ministry and writing down his every word and deed. Jesus becomes a philosopher-revolutionary and Christ is the politically savvy brother, who ultimately proves naïve. Pullman's gospel version reveals how the politics and structure of the institutional church were plotted by power-hungry men, who used the renown of Jesus and his well-meaning, devoted brother Christ as pawns in their corrupt game-a critique that will be familiar to readers of His Dark Materials. This is a tale of (almost comedic) mistaken identity and good intentions gone horribly awry. Readers will find the parables, the Good Samaritan, healings, and the Sermon on the Mount, among other familiar scenes.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Inspiring . . . Again and again, [Pullman] displays a marvelous sense of the elemental power of Jesus’s instructions and parables. Even when he transforms the canonical stories to match his atheist perspective, he emphasizes the basic Christian theme of universal love. . . . The action moves toward a conclusion that’s inevitable but still startling and moving. Yes, some Christians will be offended by this book . . . but any honest reader will find here a brisk and bracing story of profound implications. And it’s bound to send some readers back to the Bible, looking more closely at Jesus’s words and especially at all those other words crowded around Him.”—The Washington Post

“[Philip Pullman is] one of the finest British writers of his generation. . . . The attention-grabbing title alone—
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ—has been enough to rouse his enemies, and reinforce his image as a church-baiting atheist who’s beyond redemption. . . . Yet this isn’t the indiscriminate anger of a proselytizing atheist. Pullman is too fair-minded. . . . Love his answers or not, Pullman’s honesty is hard to hate.”—Newsweek

“The erudite fantasy author, Philip Pullman, makes explicit his complaint against Christian dogma with [this] challenging deconstruction of the Gospels.”
—
Entertainment Weekly

“[With]
His Dark Materials, his masterpiece trilogy . . . Pullman has written the most thrilling and imaginative novels in a generation. . . . The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ is a masterfully timed book, arriving just as the Catholic Church—Pullman’s enemy No. 1—convulses over priestly child abuse and papal cover-ups. . . . Give Pullman high marks for moxie: How many writers would dare to try to rewrite—no, to repair—the most famous, most sacred story ever written?”—Slate

“Imaginative and thought-provoking . . . A compelling portrait of Jesus . . . [Pullman] is asking readers to move beyond theology and religion. As a literary work, Pullman’s story examines perspective and how it influences storytelling. [He] provides a superb example of how history relies on narrative and narrative relies on point of view. . . . This is, at its core, a book about the power of storytelling and storytellers. . . .
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ asks us to read and then to think—really think—about what we have read, and that is precisely what we all should do.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“Thought-provoking . . . Add to [Pullman’s] passion his considerable gifts as a storyteller, and you have the ingredients for a powerful treatment of a familiar story. . . . There is no lack of . . . inventiveness . . . but it is always framed by Pullman’s keen awareness of the gospel narratives. He knows just how much of a revered story needs to remain intact in order to make its metamorphosis compelling. . . . Pullman gives us an affecting portrait of faith in extremis, of a man continuing to pray even as he doubts there is any auditor to his prayers.”—Garret Keizer, Barnes & Noble Reviews

“Compelling and challenging . . . The writing is crisp-lyrical . . . precise . . . Successful in showing how all the contradictions of a life can become distorted, so that the most important lessons disappear into history.”—Jacob Schraer,
Portland Mercury

“
In The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, we have what is both a perfect and perverse pairing: Philip Pullman and the ‘myth’ of Jesus Christ.”—The Globe and Mail

“Incendiary . . . A small gem or, given its explosive story and exquisite artistry, a hand grenade made by Faberge. Pullman is a craftsman of the highest order.”--
Sunday Times

“Provokingly bold . . . Pullman’s rebel scripture belongs in a strong tradition of its own.”—
The Independent

“Pullman is a supreme storyteller who . . . has done the story [of the Gospels] a service by reminding us of its extraordinary power to provoke and disturb.”—
The Telegraph

“A wonderfully fresh reworking of the Gospel stories [concerned with] extricating what is ethically beautiful and of permanent value in Jesus’s teachings from the religious institutions that fallibly mediate and self-servingly distort them.. . . . Pullman’s imaginative and highly thought-provoking innovation . . . is told with a self-effacing, yet incisive limpidity. . . . [
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ is] a work of genuine discretion—deeply involved and involving, but with a great instinct for what to leave tacit.”—The Independent

“A simple, powerful, knowing little book . . . Like a small grenade, it will ricochet uncomfortably around the mind of any Christian believer for some time to come.”—
Financial Times

“[
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ is] Pullman at his very best, limpid and economical. . . . Pullman leaves the Christian reader with a genuine paradox to ponder.”—The Guardian

“Told in simple, unadorned prose that is nonetheless beautifully effective,
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ traces the familiar journey toward the cross and makes it fresh. . . . Pullman’s retelling of the central story in western civilization provides a brilliant new interpretation that is also a thought-provoking reflection on the process of how stories come into existence and accrue their meanings.”—Sunday Times

“A fast-paced little parable that puts a common sense tweak to a number of the miracles, while reminding us how much of the Gospels is devoted to social justice and compassion.”—
Sacramento News & Review

“Short but ambitious, exhilarating . . . [
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ] mixes Christian mythology with speculative fiction. . . . Pullman approaches his biblical source material with respect.”—Winnipeg Free Press

“
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ is a compassionate meditation on the nature of faith.”—CBC News (Canada)

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003AT11PQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Canongate Books; Main - Canons edition (December 4, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 4, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5448 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 257 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 1,100 ratings

About the author

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Philip Pullman
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PHILIP PULLMAN is one of the most acclaimed writers working today. He is best known for the His Dark Materials trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass), which has been named one of the top 100 novels of all time by Newsweek and one of the all-time greatest novels by Entertainment Weekly. He has also won many distinguished prizes, including the Carnegie Medal for The Golden Compass (and the reader-voted "Carnegie of Carnegies" for the best children's book of the past seventy years); the Whitbread (now Costa) Award for The Amber Spyglass; a Booker Prize long-list nomination (The Amber Spyglass); Parents' Choice Gold Awards (The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass); and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, in honor of his body of work. In 2004, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

It has recently been announced that The Book of Dust, the much anticipated new book from Mr. Pullman, also set in the world of His Dark Materials, will be published as a major work in three parts, with the first part to arrive in October 2017.

Philip Pullman is the author of many other much-lauded novels. Other volumes related to His Dark Materials: Lyra’s Oxford, Once Upon a Time in the North, and The Collectors. For younger readers: I Was a Rat!; Count Karlstein; Two Crafty Criminals; Spring-Heeled Jack, and The Scarecrow and His Servant. For older readers: the Sally Lockhart quartet: The Ruby in the Smoke, The Shadow in the North, The Tiger in the Well, and The Tin Princess; The White Mercedes; and The Broken Bridge.

Philip Pullman lives in Oxford, England. To learn more, please visit philip-pullman.com and hisdarkmaterials.com. Or follow him on Twitter at @PhilipPullman.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking. They appreciate the respectful treatment of Jesus and Christian beliefs. The storytelling style is described as creative, provocative, and poignant. However, some readers feel the narrative quality is terse and not well-written. Opinions differ on the style - some find it hands-off and elegant, while others consider it dull.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

42 customers mention "Readability"38 positive4 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and fun. They find it interesting and thought-provoking, with a surprising ending. The narrative is simple and written in a small vocabulary, which some readers think resembles the Bible.

"...This scene alone is worth the read, mostly because it suggests a "Brave New World"-like glimpse into the sins of others to come...." Read more

"...It is written with a very small vocabulary and simple style, which might be to ape the Bible, but also can be considered for even younger readers..." Read more

"This is an amazing book...." Read more

"...God and religion it is a great story and can also be a great tool as an accomanying text to any "Contemporary view of Christ" college course." Read more

38 customers mention "Storytelling style"32 positive6 negative

Customers find the book's storytelling style thought-provoking and interesting. They appreciate the premise and its surprising take on explaining the myth. The prose is described as winsome and compassionate. Overall, readers describe it as an easy, refreshing read with thoughtful content.

"...Pullman's incredible storytelling frames the conversation between Jesus and God very well, as Jesus expresses his anger at God for failing to answer..." Read more

"...Yet, for its brilliant ideas, winsome prose, and compassionate wisdom, "Good Man" overcomes chapter-by-chapter the yawning failures of the whole...." Read more

"...If you can have an open mind about God and religion it is a great story and can also be a great tool as an accomanying text to any "Contemporary..." Read more

"...It's a strange read but offers a fascinating, very different take on the Gospels. It's also a very quick read so I think it's worthwhile." Read more

18 customers mention "Christianity"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book respectful of Jesus as a man. They say it offers an interesting interpretation of the story, with a good spin on Judaeo-Christian beliefs. Readers appreciate the contrast between Jesus' emotional and brave character and Christ's calculating and fearful one. The book retains the spirit of Jesus' life and teachings while offering a different take on the Gospels.

"...Christ is the calm and thoughtful one,always careful to go unnoticed, while Jesus is often thought as short-sided, irrational, and too frank to be a..." Read more

"...Jesus is emotional and brave, Christ is calculating and fearful. The Christ character seems more weak than truly evil...." Read more

"...Yet, for its brilliant ideas, winsome prose, and compassionate wisdom, "Good Man" overcomes chapter-by-chapter the yawning failures of the whole...." Read more

"...There are so many retellings of the Gospels, beginning with the Officially Licensed® versions set down by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...." Read more

11 customers mention "Storytelling"8 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling. They find it creative, provocative, and poignant. The presentation addresses many questions and retains the spirit of the life. Readers appreciate the vivid depictions of corruption and lust. The book distinguishes reality from myth, with brilliant ideas, winsome prose, and compassionate wisdom. It offers an equal dose of introspection.

"...The images of corruption and lust are extraordinarily vivid, and encompasses what I believe to be the best scene in the entire book...." Read more

"...Yet, for its brilliant ideas, winsome prose, and compassionate wisdom, "Good Man" overcomes chapter-by-chapter the yawning failures of the whole...." Read more

"...non-believer or an agnostic or atheist, Pullman’s excellent presentation addresses many questions and retains the spirit of the life and teachings..." Read more

"...I was disappointed. The book has flat characters and no new insights. The bulk of the book reiterates biblical stories practically verbatum...." Read more

6 customers mention "Fun to read"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's engaging writing style. They find it creative and poignant.

"...Fun thought exercise, however, it gets rather boring after you do it once...." Read more

"...An easy fun read and fun to discuss with friends." Read more

"It was a fun read. Read it in one sitting. But the telling of the story should have a little more spark and life to it...." Read more

"...- some inconsistencies (still some miracles) but thoughtful and entertaining. And very well read, as one would hope the author could do...." Read more

8 customers mention "Style"5 positive3 negative

Customers have differing opinions about the book's style. Some find it hands-off and elegant, with a twist. Others find the style off-putting and dull, with an almost condescending tone towards the reader. Overall, opinions are mixed on whether the book is worth reading or not.

"...It is written with a very small vocabulary and simple style, which might be to ape the Bible, but also can be considered for even younger readers..." Read more

"...I found that too off-putting for my taste, and gave up on the story after reading 45 pages...." Read more

"...Pullman's style in the book is decidedly hands-off, and very rarely did I remember that I was reading what is technically a "novel," and not an..." Read more

"...That being said, the worth of the book is a beautiful grain of sand on a vast beach of mediocracy...." Read more

5 customers mention "Narrative quality"0 positive5 negative

Customers find the narrative terse and poorly written. They dislike the tone, voice, and lack of flowery language. The dialogue is stiff and the characters are plain, with little action. Overall, readers feel the book lacks depth and is too thin.

"...The whole book itself is a rather thin volume. I read it in about three hours. You say, but it's over two hundred pages! Yes!..." Read more

"...However it sticks closely to the bible accounts, with dry, terse prose. Nothing flowery - stiff dialog, plain characters, very little action...." Read more

"...The narrative is clipped and bare, removing any story aside from the plot. The re-imagining neither adds anything nor surprises...." Read more

"I realize this was just a story but I thought it was not well written. It took an effort to finish this. I found it boring...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2010
    As many other reviewers have already said, Philip Pullman begins and ends this book attempting to make readers keep in mind that his interpretation is a "story." As someone who is very fond of a good story, I don't think this will disappoint those who are willing to open themselves up to the artistic interpretation of one of the world's most legendary tales.

    The title of the book was so interesting to me, and I really love how Pullman systematically dissects the dual nature of Jesus and Christ. Christ is the calm and thoughtful one,always careful to go unnoticed, while Jesus is often thought as short-sided, irrational, and too frank to be a religious martyr. The Angel that swarms over the two of them like a vulture during the entire story never fails to persuade Christ to play the role he was "born" to assume, that of a diligent and attentive scribe that watches over Jesus and romanticizes his interactions with everyday people. What's really interesting about the Angel is that one never really knows for certain where his intentions lie, but Christ begins to feel like a vessel for the impending doom of the Kingdom on Earth (the church system). While Jesus never believed Christ that the church system (or a "joining of organizations") would come to pass, both eventually converge on this thought while at very different stages in their individual journeys - Jesus as he facing his death, and Christ as he deals with the guilt and self-loathing of turning his brother in to Roman officials. Both eventually come to the same conclusion about the concept of church - it would "make the Devil rub his hands together," as Jesus mentions towards the concluding chapter.

    Pullman's incredible storytelling frames the conversation between Jesus and God very well, as Jesus expresses his anger at God for failing to answer or show him any signs that his work on Earth is being done for the right reasons. While discussing the concept of church, Jesus talks about how it will become a powerful vessel for the rich and influential to inflate their own divinity complexes, and how it will force the poor to be killed and condemned for "innocent deeds," such as wearing a certain type of clothing or not standing the proper way. Most interestingly, Pullman works in some commentary from Jesus about allowing regular people to become holy men, as is the case with priests. The images of corruption and lust are extraordinarily vivid, and encompasses what I believe to be the best scene in the entire book. This scene alone is worth the read, mostly because it suggests a "Brave New World"-like glimpse into the sins of others to come. Obviously, Pullman can insert this commentary given the state of societal progression, but what really struck me about it is that he empowered Jesus' character by challenging what others would be doing for the sake of religion. This is a theme that everyone, no matter their creed, can certainly identify with and relate to.

    For those who are easily offended, Pullman calls this work a story for a reason - as the character of Christ was permitted to work his magic on what he saw and create a new vision, Pullman has done the same.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2010
    A few things struck me:
    1. it is very short
    2. it is a young adult novel, practically a children's book
    3. it is very repectful of Jesus the man, which was a surprise to me.

    It is written with a very small vocabulary and simple style, which might be to ape the Bible, but also can be considered for even younger readers than His Dark Materials was. When I started seeing it as more of a children's book I started liking it more, since some of the drawbacks were more understandable (how simple it is, how it seems to lack depth but really repeats the same few themes)

    I expected it to be more angry such as the last book of His Dark Materials, but it was not. Even though Christ is called a "scoundrel" in the title, it is not that black and white in the book. Jesus is emotional and brave, Christ is calculating and fearful. The Christ character seems more weak than truly evil. While Pullman gives non miraculous explanations of some of the miracles, that is not the point so much as how people will rewrite history after the fact.

    I recommend it, though it will only take a day or two to read.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2012
    Publication of this book caused a deal of controversy, with some offended readers labelling it as blasphemous. That such readers took offense is understandable. In Pullman's version, "Jesus" and "Christ" are brothers, and the former is manipulated into dying so that the latter can leave writings that can be used to establish a new religion. The plot stays close enough to the traditional biblical tales that it takes relatively small changes for the author to weave an entirely different (and secular) account.

    In understanding the author's intent, it is worth noting that this book was published as #14 a series on ancient myths. While interpretations may vary, I take the author's account as a way of capturing the dual nature of the historical Jesus as viewed from today's perspective -- not the man vs. the god, but the itinerant faith- healer vs the unwitting founder of a new religion. I found the book neither offensive nor particularly interesting, but am glad if it opens some reader's eyes to possibilities more likely than the supernatural myths of 2000 years ago.
    22 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Boiteltoifel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfekte Osterlektüre
    Reviewed in Germany on April 18, 2022
    Eine Geschichte, wie die Kirche entstanden ist. Strenggläubige dürften toben, Gläubige und Ungläubige könnten zum Nachdenken animiert werden. Das Nachwort sollte auf jeden Fall gelesen werden.
    Das Buch ist schnell gelesen. Wer im Religionsunterricht aufgepaßt hat, kennt die meisten Stellen. Absoulut lesenswert.
  • lector
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in Spain on June 6, 2020
    It's a very good story, well written, very entertaining and witty. I enjoyed reading it.
  • Abbey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bible redefined!!
    Reviewed in India on June 30, 2015
    The book has certainly opened a whole different perspective to the life, teachings and death of Christ.
    I loved it. It is nice to see religious figures shown in a much more humane light.
    Their story would probably be more believable that ways, although this book will never make a believer out of me.
    That's just my opinion though.
    And it may probably hurt the feelings of some hardcore Christians to see Christ as a human and not how they've always been told.
    But it means no harm.
    Kudos to the writer, though!!
  • Lyra Tallis
    4.0 out of 5 stars Simplicity is under-valued
    Reviewed in Canada on January 15, 2012
    I admit to being very surprised by the other reviews of this book. While I would never argue that this is Pullman's greatest work to date (far from it), it is a respectable part of his catalogue. I think that this book is best approached without carrying in your opinions about religion - be they Christian or atheist. The primary goal of this text is to explore the development of a narrative over time, and to think about the power of 'the story'. Pullman has taken one of the best known stories and used it as his canvas. Pullman's personal beliefs about God are irrelevant when discussing this book as he is critiquing the divinity of Christ, and not the existence of God.
    In all of his work, Pullman is interested in the idea of the story and its uses. In "His Dark Materials", it is Mary's stories that initiate the climax of the trilogy. In the Sally Lockhart books, Sally works to unravel what stories are spread about her family in the style of the Victorian sensation novel. This is a simple parable investigating the use of narrative to influence people.

    Yes, the book is short. And yes, it is simple. But the narrative on which he basis the book: the Bible, is similarly simple. And the power of a convincing story need not only be effective through complex prose. Hemingway certainly didn't think so.

    Truly, this is a book worth reading. As a Pullman fan, you should read it. If you are a student of literature, you should read it. If you are interested in philosophy, theology and the development of religions, you should read it. It won't take you very long at all to read, but it provides much to consider after the book is closed.
  • Peter
    5.0 out of 5 stars A familiar story beautifully reinvented
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2010
    Even for atheists (well, for me at any rate), the story of Jesus is a powerful one. It is important not just because of its inherent beauty, but because the story infuses our culture in so many ways. I have always felt a fascination for it, for the ambiguities, the inconsistencies, the "what-does-this-mean-ness". That the story can only be viewed through the distorting mirror of the telling and retelling, the revisions and improvements of later hands, all of whom surely had agendas of their own, makes it all the more fascinating.

    Pullman's retelling of the story of Jesus is in part an imagining of what the truth of what such a story might be. It is also a beautiful and compelling story, one that is sadly all too short at less then 250 pages. It also gives some thought to organised religion, the church, and how it's founders might have felt that the historical truth needed to be amended and interpreted to make the greater eternal truth clear.

    The presentation of the book is delightful, just like a Bible, with the page headings in red (not quite rubrics, but a nod to them), the blocks of text in large print and a woven place marker: a quality production from Canongate. The hard covers and the place marker match the colour of the dust jacket (either black or white). The back cover reminds us that this is a story, and thus a commentary on the life of Jesus and the surrounding events. Pullman separates Jesus the historical figure and Christ the founder of the church. The figure called Christ in the book may be in part Judas, and the unnamed orchestrator of his actions may be Paul. Jesus is a faithful and honest servant of his God, even as God fails to give any sign in response to Jesus' prayers at Gethsemane.

    It will take you only a day to read this tale, both because of its brevity and because the story is both familiar and enticingly new. It's well worth it.

    Note: Having read and enjoyed this book so much, I've been encouraged to read the gospels again. It must be nearly 20 years since I last read them through.

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