The Liars' Gospel [Paperback]

In "The Liars' Gospel", Naomi Alderman gives the perspective of four people on the recent death of a Jewish man named Yehoshuah, who is more commonly known these days by the anglicized name of Jesus. These perspectives include Miryam (Mary), the teacher's mother, Iehuda of Qeriot (Judas Iscariot), a one time follower of the man, Caiaphas, the High Priest of the great Temple in Jerusalem and finally Bar-Avo, Barabbas, a rebel who is determined to bring down the occupying Roman presence. What makes this such a remarkable book is the sheer visceral nature of the story telling. Each story is vividly told, and Alderman evokes the time and place to such a level that you half expect to have developed a sun tan while reading the book.

Alderman has clearly researched the subject extensively, but she is never "preachy" (an unfortunate choice of words, I acknowledge) on the learning. Rather, it informs the action in a way that is both entertaining and informative. On top of this she adds a huge dose of the human factor that ensures that this is never a dry read. It touches on heavy issues, like faith and the intrinsic relationship between organized religion and politics but with a lightness of touch that never sacrifices entertainment for her message.

Alderman catches the grief of the mother combined with anger beautifully. It's both moving and thoughtful. In the telling of Iehuda's story too, she captures the delicate balance of gaining and loss of faith and the pressures of self interest. Caiaphas too is torn between the demands of the faith he represents and the protection of his people and way of life which involves cooperating with the occupying Roman army. Bar-Avo has no such interest in working with the hated Romans. He's a rebel with a cause.

The stories are full of friendship, betrayal, massacres, riots, violence and tyranny. It's no mean achievement to bring something new and fresh to such an old and known story, but Alderman does this throughout. It's an old story but the issues remain today, and like the best historical fiction, it shines a light on the present by looking to the past. By emphasising personal and very human perspectives on events, she is able to come at the story from a fresh perspective.

Tackling religious subjects is always likely to offend some readers. It's certainly true that in some cultures such a story would be at very least frowned upon and probably banned. God comes out reasonably well, but organized religion and Yehoshuah perhaps less well. As you might gather from the book's title, Alderman suggests that the story of Jesus as we have it is based at least on some elements of lies and propaganda by many. She doesn't baulk at emphasising the view that the organized Christian religion is at least in part a political construct in its historical origin.

But while the subject matter may be contentious to some, it would be wrong to suggest this is some heavy message-laden narrative. It is first and foremost an exciting, entertaining and enthralling read. All religion has a strong element of story-telling associated with it - and this is story telling of the very highest order. It deserves to be a huge success and is certainly one of my "books of the year". And that's no lie.

Most writers spend their entire careers trying to write a book as moving, as thought-provoking and as wise as `The Liars' Gospel'. Nearly all fail.

That Naomi Alderman has managed it by only her third novel is a minor wonder.

The book re-tells the story of Jesus from the perspective of four people who met him, but it does so much more. It tells the story of Rome's subjugation of the Jewish people. It shows how eye-witness accounts become stories, stories become myths, myths become accepted truths, and accepted truths change the world. And it shows how when leaders begin to believe in the myths that surround them it eventually destroys them and those they lead.

`The Liars' Gospel' is a novel of both epic scale and deep personal insight. It is exciting, funny, mournful, provocative, and beautifully written. Most importantly, this is not just a novel for Jews, Christians or fans of historical fiction. The events described have shaped the modern world, and this novel offers a different way of understanding how we got to where we are today, and there are clear parallels implied between then and now. Alderman is too skilful to write a polemic, understanding only too well that history is too complicated for shallow consideration, that all sides have motivations however misguided they may be. This is a novel that lives and breathes through characterisation and the quality of its prose, not by heavy-handedly hammering home a `message'.

A major work by a novelist who is fast becoming one of our most essential writers. If there's been a better book released in 2012 I have yet to read it. Sadly, it is almost certainly too good to win the Booker.

The Christian Church has always wrestled with the challenge of its belief that Jesus is both God and human being. Although I consider myself to be an orthodox Christian I sometimes feel that the Church has overemphasised divinity of Christ at the expense of his humanity. This new novel provides an important corrective and approaches the historical figure of Jesus from the viewpoint of four important characters in his story - his mother Mary, his disciple Judas, the High Priest Caiphas and the freedom fighter Barabbas. In writing her third novel, Naomi Alderman has skilfully used both the gospel narratives and the writings of first century historian such as Josephus to retell the story of the Jewish rabbi from Nazareth. Particularly clever was the novelist's treatment of the Barabbas story. Although the novel's ironic title was sensationalist, her treatment of the figure of Jesus was reverent. How refreshing for a writer to treat Jesus as a human being who, although he was passionate in his belief in the imminent Reign of God also had time to laugh with his friends. I was so engrossed by the book, I read it in one sitting and then ordered Ms Alderman's second novel, 'The Lessons' which I also thoroughly enjoyed.