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Description edit
Now a major motion picture, The Last Temptation of Christ is a monumental fictional reinterpretation of the Gospels by one of the giants of modern literature. It follows in the lines of The Gospel According to Jesus Christ by Jose Saramago in reinterpreting the journey of Jesus from his house... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters edit
- Jesus of Nazareth: the son of a carpenter who may be the Messiah
- Mary Magdalene: a woman whose spurned love of Jesus of Nazareth has led her into prostitution
- Peter: Add a description of this character.
- John: the "beloved" disciple of Jesus
- Annas
- Judas Iscariot: a Zealot and Jesus' most important disciple
- Andrew
- Jacob
- Nathanael
- Martha
- Matthew: a publican, disciple, and chronicler of the life of Jesus
- Barabbas: a Zealot bandit
- Thomas: a merchant turned doubting disciple
- Jonah
- Philip
- Pontius Pilate: Roman governor of the province of Judea
- Simon
- Lazarus: brother of Martha and Mary, raised from the dead by Jesus
- Saul: a Jew who mocks Christ, later to convert and become the apostle Paul
- Paul
- Joseph: a carpenter stricken by God, the husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus
- Simeon: Mary of Nazareth's brother, a rabbi and the uncle of Jesus
- Daniel
- Isaiah
- Rufus: a Roman centurion who witnesses Jesus' power
- Joachim
- Ruth
- Ananias
- Salome: wife of Zebedee, mother of Jacob and John
- Mary of Nazareth: mother of Jesus, wife of Joseph, and sister of Simeon
- Zebedee: a fisherman, husband of Salome and father of Jacob and John
- John Baptist: an apocalyptic prophet of the desert who preaches of the imminent coming of the Messiah
Setting & Locations edit
The events of the novel take place in the Roman-occupied territory of Palestine, roughly from 30-33 CE.
- Nazareth
- Jordan
- Galilee
- Capernaum
- Cana
- Judea
- Gennesaret
- Idumea
- Capemaum
- Samaria
- Cedron Valley
- Jericho
- Golgotha: the hill of crucifixion; literally, "place of the skull"
- Bethany
First Sentence edit
A COOL HEAVENLY BREEZE took possession of him.
Table of Contents edit
The novel consists of a prologue and thirty-three numbered chapters. The English translation is accompanied by the essay "A Note on the Author and His Use of Language" by P.A. Bien
Series & Lists edit
This is book 500 of 1271 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
Preceded by The Quiet American, and followed by The Recognitions.
This book is in Books Filmed By Martin Scorsese. (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Nikos Kazantzakis (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: Greek
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: Greece
Publication Date: 1960
ISBN: 0-684-85256-X
Page Count: 506
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: Greece
Publication Date: 1960
ISBN: 0-684-85256-X
Page Count: 506
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PA5610.K39 T4
- Dewey: 889.3
Notes for Parents edit
Reading Level: AdultsKazantzakis heady prose and the theological issues upon which he meditates will likely be over the heads of most pre-adult readers.The novel is controversial for its examination of humanity's struggle with faith, personified by the internal conflicts between the dual Human and Divine nature of Jesus of Nazareth. Although the book was not written with the goal of offending the reader (it is, in fact, a novel about the importance and power of faith in God), some may be turned off by the fictionalized reinterpretation of the life of Christ.
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Movie Connections edit
- The Last Temptation of Christ (IMDb): Martin Scorsese, 1988
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