Druids. Celts. Isis. Not exactly a combination one expects in conjuction with Mary Magdalen. Given only passing mentions in the Gospels, one would think she is nothing more than a creation to teach a lesson on redemption. Those easily offended by anything outside this staler version of Christian dogma, feel free to leave the room now. Go on...shoo. I'm sure there's a protest against Harry Potter to keep you busy until I'm finished.
Unless you've been living under a rock since the release of The Da Vinci Code, I'm sure you've heard the rumor of the prostitute being the bride of Christ. Elizabeth Cunningham's view takes it a few steps further, exploring the viewpoint of Mary Magdalen having an actual life. A bawdy, enjoyable, sexy life at that. Mary is transformed into Maeve Rhuard -- a Celtic priestess/goddess, born to warrior witches, and rescuer of her beloved Esus from Druidic sacrifice.
This is the second in The Maeve Chronicles, picking up her journey to Galilee with Joseph of Aramithea and her sale as a slave to a well-known madam in Rome. There, her reputation grows as a charming and very popular whore at the Temple of Isis Magdalen, renamed to the Temple Magdalen due mostly to Maeve's...skill. After she is freed from her servitude, she travels to Palestine in search of her Esus -- now known as Jesus -- and settles down as his gentile wife.
A mixture of historical research, Hebrew scriptures, Celtic legend and Egyptian mythology, this is a wonderful look at life in first-century Rome and Palestine. It is guaranteed to generate controversy with those possessing a sterile imagination, as such heady concepts as sex with Christ and lesbianism are introduced into the storyline. Given my open-mindedness, this is not blasphemy but serves to transform Cunningham's characters into humans and not the written shadows of the Gospels.
Those qualities form this into a beautifully written, powerfully insightful piece of literature well worth anyone's time.
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Publisher: Monkfish Book Publishing (April 15, 2006)
ISBN: 0976684306