THE WORD

by Irving Wallace ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1972

This is another Passover Plot du Jour begat by the discovery of something which will be called ""the second Resurrection"" -- a find of some papyri of James the Just who was Jesus' brother and Petronius, a Roman centurion, proving that Jesus did not die on the Cross and lived 19 more years. It will of course be of vital revitalizing importance in this age of diminishing faith -- for Steven Randall, a PR man hired to launch the new book of books; also for his dying father who was a minister but had lost his certitude. Steve, whose marriage is dissolving, goes to Europe to promote the book and instead finds himself investigating its possibly spurious origins. In spite of Angela, a scholar's daughter instrumental in its discovery, with whom he falls in love (after Darlene; after Naomi, a former nun who has learned to shed her clothes as well as her habit). Needless to say, the word easily becomes flesh (""he wanted' to throw her on the bed and fuck her until her ears bled"") but then Wallace is one of the few practitioners around who can tell a story without ever stopping to refuel: there's a miracle cure; an impossible conception; a betrayal (Angela's) and repudiation; blackmail; forgery and a murder, or was it an accidental death, all while he attempts to go to the font. In excelsis excelsior.

Pub Date: March 1, 1972

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1972

Categories: FICTION