As part of a paper on Children’s Literature at uni, we studied Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. It’s so much more of course than a retelling of Paradise Lost, but even if approached on that level it works rather well. So I for one am looking forward to Pullman’s new book, to be released around Easter 2010 – ‘The Good Man Jesus And The Scoundrel Christ’.
I can already hear the gnashing and gnawing of teeth over this. The book tells the story of how St Paul apparently embellished the story of Jesus having been the son of God.
Personally, I don’t particularly care what anyone believes, as long as they don’t hurt anyone in the process and refrain from forcing their beliefs on others. What is good about books like these is that they make people ask questions; hopefully they make children ask questions (even more so than necessary), because while it is most of the time beneficial for children to heed their parents, there are times when they should blatantly reject what grownups tell them.
So here’s to you, Mr Pullman. We’ll be seeing you a lot in the news come egg-hunting season next year.
2 comments:
I wrote a short story once about Paul making a deal with some demons where they would terrorise some Rabbis so he could come in and do an exorcism and save the day. I can't remember which bible story its based on but it seemed funny and entirely possible at the time. I portrayed Paul as a scam-artist who preferred to make gratuity over any actual heavenly reward.
I should find it and clean it up some time.
That sounds dementedly entertaining!
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