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The Gospel Of Judas
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Plot Summary of The Gospel Of Judas
"THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS

Little, Brown; Jun 2001; 24.95; 330 pp.
ISBN: 0316097500

    Near the Dead Sea, a new scroll from the time of Jesus has been discovered. The church sends Rome teacher-scholar Father Leo Newman to investigate and translate the newest find. Leo is going through a difficult period as he has doubts about his chosen avocation ever since he met and sinned by having an affair with Madeline Brewer. Still, Leo immediately travels to Jerusalem to join an international team inspecting the rich find, but his assignment is to concentrate on one particular papyrus.

    Leo quickly realizes that the document the Church sent him to inspect apparently contains the Gospel accordance to Judas Iscariot. Instead of supporting the other Gospels, this scroll denies much of what has been claimed. Leo begins to comprehend how Judas felt when he condemned his best friend to death.

    THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS is an insightful look at the Judas betrayal but in a modern text and through Leo's break in faith. The story line is fast-paced especially in an allegorical manner that compares Leo to Judas. The flashbacks to World War II are cleverly written, but the story belongs to the Leo-Judas relationship that, in turn, proves how talented a thriller writer Simon Mawer truly is.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of The Gospel Of Judas
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
How difficult to spot villain? - Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story: - 1980's-1999
Spying/Terrorism Thriller Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets: - power struggle within govt between two factions
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
Who's the terrorist enemy here? - evil subgroup in own govt
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here? - finding a known killer

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - religious figure
Age: - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - just the right amount
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - power

Setting
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - Arabia

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 1
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to The Gospel Of Judas
Enemy Within by Robert K. Tanenbaum
Natural Suspect by William Bernhardt
Forty Words For Sorrow by Giles Blunt
Crush by Samuel E. Stone
Massacre Island by Martin Hegwood


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