BROTHERS OF VENGEANCE

by LeGette Blythe ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 25, 1969

Mr. Blythe, having produced before this at least three Biblical historicals anent early Christian beginnings, breezes through the tangled genealogies of the Emperors Tiberius, Caligula and Claudius; but the reader flounders early on in a morass of plots and tiresome declamations. Emerging shakily from the muddle of three Agrippas, a pair of Agrippinas, and the Herods who never seem to be straightened out, is the story of the Zealot Bar Abbas (the same who. . . ) and the slave Onesimus (possibly the Bishop Onesimus mentioned by Ignatius?). Onesimus, who saw the murder of both parents as a boy travelling to visit Pontius Pilate (under orders of the scheming Prefect Sejanus), vows a lifelong search to avenge the slaughter. Bar Abbas, released by Pilate, is involved in a plot of another pretender, performs as a gladiator and sets off to free Israel from Rome. Eventually both men come under the influence of the teachings and sacrifice of Jesus, become Christians forgiving each other. Bar Abbas is killed in one of Nero's orgies while Onesimus, tutored by Saul, goes forth to preach the Word. Seripture sucaryl.

Pub Date: July 25, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Morrow

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1969

Categories: FICTION