THE NAZARENE GOSPEL; by ROBERT GRAVES and JOSHUA PODRO / Being PART III (text only) / of their Nazarene Gospel Restored
London: Cassell and Company Limited, 1955. First Edition. Cloth. 8vo, black cloth with gold lettering on spine, Mylar-protected parchment-colored dust jacket (front flap price clipped; rear flap with price not clipped) with red and black lettering, xi, [xii: blank] + 175 pages. Fine / Near Fine. Item #3293
RARE title, especially in this EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION. The cloth is tight, clean, and the text is clean--a light tincture of toning--with a NEAR FINE but RARE dust jacket with only a few small nicks at the head of the spine, slight rubbing, and a somewhat faded spine.
Fascinating summary of what Robert Graves (1895 - 1985)--with the assistance of Josh Podro on Jewish resources--believed Jesus actually said and did--at least according to the primitive Nazarene Gospel, which was mentioned by several early Christian fathers.
The detailed, exhaustive (and occasionally quite speculative) reconstruction was previously set forth in the author's massive and unabridged Nazarene Gospel Restored (1954). Though poet-classisist Robert Graves occcasionally (often?) becomes too speculative, this controversial volume anticipates conclusions reached much later by Morton Smith and The Jesus' Seminar.
Graves is well known for his poetry, classical and mythographic studies such as The Greek Myths; the historical fiction such as the novel I, Claudius; and his wild poetic excursion The White Goddess. Less well known Joshua Podro was a journalist and prominent Zionist with expertise in ancient Jewish sources and traditions. He and Graves also coauthored the speculative Jesus in Rome.
Price: $225.00