King Jesus (novel)
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Founder | Robert Graves |
| Products | Semi-historical narrative novel |
King Jesus is a semi-historical narrative authored by Robert Graves, initially released in 1946. The book depicts the historical Jesus not as the divine Son, but rather as a thinker possessing a rightful claim to the Judaean throne through lineage linked to Herod the Great and the Davidic dynasty, offering reinterpretations of numerous Biblical accounts from a secular viewpoint.
Synopsis
The story is conveyed through the eyes of an official living under Domitian. It begins with the statement: "I, AGABUS the Decapolitan, commenced this work at Alexandria in the ninth year of Emperor Domitian and concluded it at Rome in the thirteenth year of his reign." The narrative largely unfolds as conversations among prophets and other figures, framed within the perspective of a Roman hagiographer. The initial section sets the scene during Herod’s rule prior to Jesus’s birth, establishing Jesus’s dynastic and political rights to Israel’s throne via both maternal and paternal heritage. The subsequent part details the Nativity and Jesus’s early years, while the final segment recounts his prophetic mission, crucifixion, and resurrection.
In an appended "Historical Commentary," Graves explains that each significant aspect of the story is grounded in some form of tradition, although he admits that thoroughly verifying these historical sources was a complex task he chose not to fully undertake.
Editions
The authoritative academic edition is included in the Collected Works of Robert Graves (Carcanet Press), overseen by editor Robert A. Davis.
Reception
A 1946 review by Kirkus Reviews remarked: "This is not for those easily offended; it portrays Jesus as a philosopher and poet rather than divine," while commending Graves’ brisk narrative style. In Commentary, Mordecai Chertoff critiqued Graves’ interpretation of Jewish religious traditions but recognized that Graves aimed less for strict historical accuracy than to explore themes such as paternal versus maternal authority in Jewish history. Chertoff cautioned readers against accepting the fictional elements as factual. In 1981, John Leonard from The New York Times connected the novel to Graves’ sustained fascination with Gnosticism and his wider mythological frameworks, highlighting how Graves incorporated historical personalities like Herod’s grandson to underpin his storyline.
Later references
The non-fiction book Herodian Messiah presents arguments supporting the thesis advanced in King Jesus—that Jesus was born to Antipater ben Herod and Mariamne bat Antigonus.[1]
External links
- Old Heresy, New Version. Review of King Jesus from Time Magazine, September 30, 1946]
- ↑ According to Graves, Maria was not King Antigonus's daughter but rather Joaquim, a descendant of David.