The Word

by Irving Wallace

"I, James of Jerusalem, brother of the Lord Jesus Christ, heir of the Lord, eldest of the Lord's surviving brethren and the son of Joseph of Nazareth...herewith...set down a brief testimony of my brother Jesus Christ's life and ministry..." A momentous archeological discovery, the greatest of all time - and the immediate effect it has on the varied group of men and women whose lives are intimately touched and altered by it - is at the heart of this exciting novel. In the ruins of the ancient Roman seaport of Ostia Antica, an Italian archeologist has discovered a first-century papyrus, its faded Aramaic text revealing a new gospel written by James, younger brother of Jesus, the original source of the four gospels of the New Testament. The discovery offers the modern world a new Jesus Christ, a real man who lived and walked on earth, fills in the missing years of his ministry, contradicts the existing accounts of his life - and of his supposed death. To the world at large, The Word - if it is genuine - will come as a revelation, a call to revived faith and hope in an age of doubt and fear. To the syndicate of international Bible publishers and their theologians, who have guarded the secret since its discovery and gambled their lives and fortunes on its authenticity - The Word is a consuming obsession as well as a business enterprise of such magnitude that they cannot let it be touched by the slightest tinge of doubt. To Steven Randall, the cynical and successful young New York public relations man who has been hired to introduce the International New Testament to the world, the assignment offers more than an awesome challenge. Haunted by a broken marriage, a problem daughter, a demanding mistress, he sees in it the promise of a spiritual regeneration, a last chance to save himself from the pointlessness of life. But from the moment that Randall decides to investigate the new gospel, he is caught up in a web of intrigue - involving an ex-nun, a homosexual Dutchman, a crippled secretary, a monk on womanless Mt. Athos, a German printer hiding a scandal- that tests both his courage and the authenticity of The Word. Rediscovering his faith in his fellow man and his capacity to love, Randall desperately pursues the source of The Word, searching for the truth at the risk of his newfound relationship with the daughter of the man who discovered the lost gospel, Angela Monti, challenging the austere and enigmatic Reverend Maertin de Vroome, the radical religious reformer who is fighting The Word and its orthodox sponsors. Swiftly, recklessly, Randall eludes the vast international organization known by the code name Resurrection Two, which has been created to exploit the new Bible. Moving from New York and London to Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome - from the British Museum to a French radiocarbon laboratory, from the Dutch Westerkerk to a monastery on a Grecian peninsula - Randall continues his pursuit of the shadowy, mysterious figure - convict, madman, genius - who alone knows the truth about The Word. With his brilliant flair for authentic detail, with his incomparable gift for storytelling, Irving Wallace has created in The Word his most explosive, controversial, and breathtaking novel.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Religion, Historical Fiction, Novels, Books About Books

628 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Irving Wallace was an American bestselling author and screenwriter. His extensively researched books included such page-turners as The Chapman Report (1960), about human sexuality; The Prize (1962), a fictional behind-the-scenes account of the Nobel Prizes; The Man, about a black man becoming president of the U.S. in the 1960s; and The Word (1972), about the discovery of a new gospel.

Wallace was born in Chicago, Illinois. Wallace grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was the father of Olympic historian David Wallechinsky and author Amy Wallace.

Wallace began selling stories to magazines when he was a teenager. In World War II Wallace served in the Frank Capra unit in Fort Fox along with Theodor Seuss Geisel - more popularly known as Dr Seuss - and continued to write for magazines. He also served in the First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Force. In the years immediately following World war II Wallace became a Hollywood screenwriter. He collaborated on such films as The West Point Story (1950), Split Second (1953),and Meet Me at the Fair (1953).

After several years in Hollywood, he devoted himself full-time to writing books. Wallace published 33 books during his lifetime.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

If this wasn't book 49 of my 50 book challenge I would have abandoned it 300 pages ago. I keep reading the little snippets of reviews on the first page that call this book "thrilling" and wondering what book the reviewer read. The editor in me wants to remove 1/2 of the words, whole paragraphs even, because they are TOTALLY POINTLESS. It just drags and drags, and just when you think it can't get any hokier you get to the last 10 pages. All I can say is that when I finished the last page I made a noise like a cat coughing up a hairball.

[Víctor R. Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE WORD is similar to Dan Brown's THE DA VINCI CODE.

Irving Wallace provides a lot of interesting details about how the New Testament was written, how Bibles were published, and the historical facts surrounding the life of Christ.

This novel is very long, with too many unnecessary subplots and situations, but it is also thought-provoking.

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

New York in the 1970’s, business is booming. Amongst the world’s top businessmen is Steven Randall, head of a successful public relations firm. Around him, the government is growing increasingly secretive and equally controlling. Big Business has devolved into an almost unrecognizable entity, one that preys on the American public, denying products of convenience and pragmatism to all except the wealthy, in order to profit billions.

But Randall is different. He views the world through cynicism glasses, and although he isn’t against making a decent living, he isn’t greedy, either. Not like Big Business and Big Government. In more ways than one, he’s a bi-product of the 1960’s.

And yet, he isn't alone. He’s thought highly of in his job. He’s respected by his peers. Outside of work, his family loves him very much, despite their strained relations. There is strnegth in numbers, and with that comes hope.

At the same time, something unprecedented is about to disrupt Randall's life, and the publishing world at large. To understand the implications of that, Irving Wallace takes the reader into the seedy reaches of Ostia Antica, Rome, and the site of a monumental discovery. An Italian archaeologist (who may be more insane than stable,) has unearthed an unprecedented biblical find; a sixth gospel, written by the brother of Jesus, known commonly as James the Just. His account paints a significantly different life than what’s told in the previous five books. Different, but in no way offensive. Those are some of the archaeologist’s claims. He believes in the cause wholeheartedly, which begs some questions: can he be trusted, and-taking things another step further—is he thinking rationally? Acting soundly? In what ways will his instability effect his decisions? In the simplist of terms, his judgment is unreliable.

It is these middle sections that impressed me the most, suctioning me in further and further, and much of that came from Wallace’s powerful writing. It’s fascinating and profound without being didactic. His prose is seething with history, from an archaeological as well as a biblical standpoint. The Word was clearly researched well; exhaustively, in fact. I could read this stuff all day.
Along the way, characters such as Randall, his friend Angela, and the enigmatic Dominee Maertin de Vroome, took on lives all their own, making choices which helped define their new blossoming selves, but in wholly believable and realistic ways. They grew and matured, gradually evolving into stronger, more confident, and better human beings. As the plot and subplots unfolded, I came to love and genuinely admire these characters, especially the one whom I never thought I’d like, let alone respect: Steven Randall.

In the midst of everything, the novel embraced theories all its own; conspiracy theories deeply entwined in the modestly stunning narrative that it was nearly impossible to pinpoint each one, without feelings of detachment or intimidation. This isn’t constructive criticism. Rather the opposite, in fact. Wallace weaved them together not subtly nor abruptly; the pace was just right, as one decision lead to the next and the next, et al. At times, it was almost too much, yet not enough. The lengths that Randall’s opposition went to were sometimes predictable, but simultaneously, the stakes couldn’t be higher and they had to do what they did. Anything else would be subpar.

At the other end of the spectrum, his journey led him to multiple locales around the world (Oak City, Wisconsin; Paris; Mulan; Amsterdam; London; Frankfurt, Germany; the Dutch Westerkerk; a Grecian monastery,) that you’d think there'd be more action and suspense, but sadly, there was not. This was a significant disappointment because I was anticipating much more. Instead, Wallace delivered beautiful scenery, rapid-fire intrigue, and terrific dialogue which helped develop the characters further, while elevating the plot. In retrospect, this shouldn’t work, but somehow it does, and that-in itself—is quite remarkable.

Equally bewildering was the ending itself. How is it possible to walk away from a nigh seven hundred page tome with feelings of gratitude, and being unable to imagine not ever reading this book, which many consider to be Irving Wallace’s best? Also, with feelings of elation and sadness and hope for humanity and with an underlying sense of doom; of disappointment? As before, all of these conflicting factors should not work, but they’re surprisingly effective and good.

I suspect that Angela summed it up best:

“This beginning was the end which justified any means…
“The means did not matter. The end was all.
“This she had said.”

[Isabel Rebelo da Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is hard to read until the middle or even more. The end of the story is surprising and it turns the book into a good book. The story is great but as I said, the beginning is a drag!

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

I confess I skipped a bit in this. Why? Because I'd already read it, sort of. The Holy Grail Holy Blood authors weren't the only ones Dan Brown ripped off, er built on to create The DaVinci Code. The base concept is different, but the more I read this, the more the same it seemed. Except, perhaps, less entertaining.

[Katia Ibáñez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un famoso y cínico publicista de Nueva York, Steven Randall, es buscado por una corporación para lanzar el anuncio de un descubrimiento que promete cambiar el destino de la religión a nivel mundial, un papiro que da detalles adicionales de la vida de Jesús. Se envuelve en el proyecto y poco a poco va teniendo fe en este nuevo descubrimiento y en la reacción que puede causar en las personas. En el camino descubre que el proyecto tiene un "enemigo", el Dominee De Vroome que quiere desmentir y evitar que se propague este hallazgo. Él le informará a Randall ciertos detalles acerca de sus empleadores, que él desconoce y que le hacen dudar de su transparencia. Mientras más investiga, más incongruencias descubre y más se da cuenta del poder que ejerce el grupo que lo contrató. Randall deberá decidir de qué lado está, deberá decidir si la fe es lo único que importa, o si el fin justifica los medios.
Es la primera vez que leo a este autor y debo decir que me costó. El libro es muy descriptivo en demasiadas partes, que aunque muestra una investigación esmerada de parte del autor; tiende a hacer perder el interés al lector. Dicen quienes han leído al autor antes, que él se toma su tiempo en definir la personalidad del protagonista, de manera que el lector se haga una idea muy acertada. Para mí el libro hace esto en 400 páginas, es recién ahí que empieza a ser más ágil el libro y que uno no para de leer hasta el final. La resolución del libro no me gustó tanto, se sintió como si otra vez se quisiera estirar algo para crear un ambiente que creo que no fue tan necesario.

[Barry Eysman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some years ago on the Today show someone issued this statement, the tomb of James brother of Jesus had been found. The archeologist had discovered papyrus by James written about Jesus. Whoever was the host of the Today show that morning was in golly gee wow mode. So I'm thinking of the 1970s novel THE WORD. As things developed over the week it seemed to me THE WORD was being used as a blueprint for this. Irving Wallace was a hugely successful writer, and an extremely good one. In his novel he writes the book of James. Only Wallace would be so daring. The way a forged papyrus could be made was also discussed in detail by a character in Wallace's novel. I won't tell you the plot because it's genius and I don't want to spoil it for you. It seemed obvious this one week wonder was using Wallace's book. I'm thinking if these learned men and women of the press did not remember the novel, maybe they remember the TV movie of it. Apparently not. On Friday of that same week was the tragic news that the papyrus had been destroyed in transit. What a shock. Anyway, it's a great novel. You should read it. Sadly Irving Wallace had died by then.

[Jeff Mayo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery thriller was something that heavily influenced Dan Brown. A New York PR man is hired by Bible publishers to give the story of the New Testament as told by them. He discovers an ancient text written by James, younger brother of Jesus, which would contradict everything Christianity believes in. New York, London, Paris, Germany, Greece, Milan, and Rome make up the various backstops as more than one group hunts him down for the knowledge he has. It has some interesting ideas about how the New Testament was written, which stories were chosen, and which were left out. It is thought provoking but there are too many subplots that lead nowhere, the storyline is directed at true believers, and despite some background information given, it takes archaeology as a theory rather than actual sound and proven science.

[E.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A New Gospel is discovered. Is it a fraud ?
In the aftermath of the Da Vinci code, such books came out by the dozens, and I remember reading a couple. But this one was written by Wallace a few decades ago and had loved the 3 I had read earlier by him and decided to pick it up.
The main problem with this book was its length - 700 pages. The first half was slow and I didnt get a sense of purpose which was strange for a book by Wallace. The second half was fast-paced and our hero is drawn into an investigation to authenticate the New Gospel.
Also, while the author does present some biblical history, inevitably “The Word” pales in comparison to the superlative “The Da Vinci code”.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

After graduating from seminary and moving back to Chicago I obtained, disappointingly, a job as a childcare worker for supposedly psychotic adolescent boys with the Jewish Children's Bureau. My boss literally went crazy herself and I was de facto in charge (24/7 with no pay raise) until, months later, the agency hired a new director, Marilyn. That didn't work out. She was fired. Months later I got a call from her, asking me to move over to the Mission of Our Lady of Mercy/Angel Guardian Center where she'd just been appointed director.

As I'd liked Marilyn and her husband, Lou, both of them former religious, I made the move. The pay was about the same, but the operation was much bigger: more supposedly crazy boys and our own school facility. Also, the psychiatric social workers were both from the Adler Institute and both of them were pleasant to work with.

Summers were a problem, however. The kids went home for a lengthy period when school was out of session and I had no income until I picked up a job at Volume II Bookstore/Cafe on Sheridan Road across from Loyola University's Lake Shore campus. There, in addition to selling books, I got the job of buying used books for resale, work I really enjoyed as it allowed me to do what I'd be doing anyway and get my pick of the litter.

I found out a lot about the American reading public working at the bookstore. What I learned was not heartening. What sold was mostly crap, the best of which was on the order of Stephen King--or Irving Wallace.

Wallace's The Word, as the description appended here indicates, promised to be quite interesting to someone as concerned about the history of Christianity and its texts as I am. Unfortunately, the book ended up being a disappointment to me, the promise of the fly-leafs being misleading.

What would happen were another gospel found, a gospel authenticated as being from the period of the synoptics, a gospel presenting a significantly different picture of Jesus than the ones we're used to? The recent hullaballoo about the "new" Gospel of Judas, a much later gnostic text, promulgated by National Geographic gives some idea about what would happen. Magnify this a bit and you get what Wallace's novel foreshadows.

For those of you who are believing Christians: What would you do were there to be an authenticated gospel which revealed, as many early "Christians" and orthodox Islam maintain, that Jesus did not die to be miraculously resurrected? Would a change, any change, in the historical picture effect a change in your basic values or behaviors?

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book, my first Irving Wallace, after returning from a week at an archaeological dig in Israel. While I enjoyed many of the historical references and the author's genuine attempt to couch the story in a believable context, I found the central character to be distracting and the plot line more sensationalized than it needed to be. The iconoclastizing of the uncovered sacred text, for example, reveals a shallow understanding of the science of archaeology and the impact such a find would really have on the Church and the lives of the faithful. Many of the key characters border on buffoonery. And, of course, given the central character's vacillating nature, laxity in security, and demonstrated naivete within a profession in which he is purported to be an expert, his supposed animal magnetism among women is hardly credible. The fact that he has slept with hundreds of women, until that never-before moment when he finally discovers his true soul mate in the throws of their first passionate exchange is just what women want. Sure. All in all, though, a good example of why pulp fiction can be fun.

[Chomsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cercando un libro nella mia libreria ho ritrovato un libro che non leggevo da una trentina di anni ma che a quei tempi mi piacque tantissimo. "Il Verbo" di Irving Wallace è stato senza dubbio il precursore di tanti romanzi storici che vanno per la maggiore, cominciando dal "Codice Da Vinci" di Dan Brown. Il romanzo parla di una sensazionale scoperta archeologica fatta a Ostia Antica che rivela un Vangelo perduto attribuito addirittura al fratello minore di Gesù, Giacomo.
Questo Vangelo rivoluziona l'immagine di Gesù e crea un grandissimo interesse mediatico e commerciale ma Steve Randall, il manager pubblicitario che deve lanciare in grande stile la campagna editoriale, approfondendo le tematiche del Vangelo, trova qualche piccolo anacronismo e piano piano capisce quali interessi si celino dietro il ritrovamento. Dopo una serrata ricerca attraverso mezza Europa Randall riuscirà a trovare la soluzione dell'enigma vivendo un periodo di profondo coinvolgimento spirituale.
Romanzo che mescola thriller, avventura, storia religiosa in modo mirabile, "Il Verbo" è anche una vibrata accusa alle manipolazioni politiche e alle strumentalizzazioni mediatiche che già allora, il libro è stato scritto nel 1972, si profilavano all'orizzonte.
Devo confessare che in seguito alla lettura del libro sono anche andato a Ostia Antica per rivivere le suggestioni suscitate dal romanzo e ho scoperto una città meravigliosa, che non ha niente da invidiare a Pompei.

[Arturo Ascencio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es curioso leer una novela de la década de los 70’s u 80’s en estos días. Cómo era la vida sin celulares sin Internet, sin la tecnología que tenemos hoy en día, incluso para la gente rica y empoderada. Es una lectura interesante para los jóvenes que han vivido toda su vida con estos avances, para que vean como funcionaba el mundo en esa época. Y funcionaba.
Tuve la oportunidad de leer esta novela en su momento, recién publicada, y me gusto, ahora que la volví a leer obviamente me pareció muy lenta , de poco interés e irreal.
Un personaje central que es todo un Don Juan y que en estos tiempos no se podría escribir de él por como trata y describe su relación con las mujeres.
La forma en la que va y viene de país en país y como entra, sale y daña sitios históricos es algo completamente fuera de la realidad, ahora y cuando se escribió. Este es un recurso que en la actualidad utiliza mucho Dan Brown.
En mi opinión es una novela que vale la pena leer para ver como funcionaba el mundo hace 50 años y nada más.

[Ivone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Li este livro mesmo há muito tempo, tinha 13 anos na altura e pouco me lembro da história, apenas que me prendeu de tal forma que passei umas férias de Verão em Carreço uma boa parte do tempo enfiada no quarto a lê-lo, em vez de me correr na praia e brincar com os meus primos e irmãos. Tinha que o acabar e não consegui largá-lo até ao fim. O que me ficou do livro, curiosamente, foi isto porque pouco recordo mais dele. Mas na altura lembro-me que li vários livros deste autor porque um tio meu gostava muito e emprestava-mos, dizendo "mas olha que este tem uma volta na ponta".

[Steve Shilstone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too long. Skimmed a lot. Second half features a few lively plot threads.

[Dave Estela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good mystery novel about a publisher hired to promote a new bible based on newly discovered evidence about Jesus. But is it authentic or a forgery? Irving Wallace is one of my favorite authors and I've enjoyed every book of his that I've read.

[Lakshan Wickrema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irwin Wallace was a favorite author of my late father, and I read and reread his Seven Minutes and also New York Times bestseller The Prize. His socially liberal progressive in tune with the counterculture era of 1960 s appealed to me. It was this understanding I began to read Word.
First of all I must confess I'm an avid fan of biblical origins and archaeology. The origins of Christianity, Historicity of Christ are themes that continue to fascinate me to this day. Dan Brown is a good story teller, yet his obviously fantasist approach with its empty core and plagiarized story failed to satiate my curiosity - not to mention shallow characterization of Da Vinci Code. Remarkably this thriller written in the early 1970 s is free of those flaws for the most part at least when it comes to the main character Steve Randall and the Ostia Antica papyrus that supposedly holds key to the true life of Jesus.
Steve Randall, the protagonist, is a cynic, an embittered head of a successful New York publicity firm who's increasingly becoming disillusioned with his professional life tinged with commercialism and personal life besotted by marital problems and his clergyman father facing a cardiac arrest. In short Steve is in midst of a crisis of faith. In the meantime he's locked in negotiations with a big time firm to close a deal to sell his PR operation so he could have enough money and security to lead the rest of the life the way he wanted to in peace and quiet away from rat race.
Then comes call from George Wheeler, the fat cat US biblical publisher, representing consortium of eminent publishers from Europe and America and theologians, asking Steve to become the PR head for a publicity campaign to market what is called International New Testament, which includes a hitherto unknown brand new Gospel written by Jesus's brother James the Just. What is remarkable about this new Gospel is it has first person view by someone who witnessed Jesus and his ministry unlike other Gospel writers writing decades after the event basing on other witnesses. Apparently this new Gospel was found by an eminent Italian archaeologist among the ruins of a villa belonging to probable Christian convert, Jewish merchant in Ostia Antica, with another parchment from a heathen Roman centurion attesting to the veracity of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. With this new gospel no longer would we view Christ through Glass darkly but had clear view just like second coming or Resurrection Two as the project is named.
Reading the new gospel, Steve Randall was shorn of his cynicism and found his long lost faith in Christ and more importantly in life. But then lingering doubts began to assail Steve. The meeting with the radical protestant minister Dominee Vroom who's against the attempts by publishers and Church to use this gospel to preserve orthodoxy so as to prevent religious reforms from being enacted, makes Steve question motives behind the project. Further a more damaging and sinister allegation is being made that new Gospel is nothing but a forgery made in 20th century.
With his faith and life on the balance, Steve Randall sets out to find the truth once for all, even if it costs him all that is dear. With over 700 pages in print edition and barring some repetitious boring sections, The Word is a thrilling read, a real page turner, and I found it a more satisfying experience than Da Vinci Code

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

La idea argumental es buena, pero el autor falla a la hora de desarrollarla. Es demasiado descriptivo con hechos y personas que no son importantes para la trama y ese "exceso" hace que la novela pierda agilidad y ritmo, resultando en algunos momentos aburrida y en otros pedante. El resultado es una especie de catecismo apócrifo al que le sobran, fácilmente, 200 páginas. El final, aunque previsible resulta un poco decepcionante.

[Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, the story had promise. I liked the "idea" of the book - the impact that a "newly discovered" gospel might have on the world. So, we'll give it 5 stars for storyline, but... it loses one star for being just too darn long. I think the book would have been better without some of the unnecessary fluff. It also loses a star for "stupid moments". There were just way too many incidences where I felt that the characters were too gullible, or just plain stupid. Some of the characters words and actions just felt fake or unbelievable. They would go from too trusting, to too distrustful, too quickly. And then there was our main character, Steve Randall, who we are suppose to sympathize with. He just plain wasn't that great a guy. I'm docking 1/2 a star because it's difficult to enjoy a book when I don't respect the "hero". He did become a little better as the story progressed. As he became more driven to know the truth, I respected him more. All in all, a solid 3-1/2 star book, and I'm glad I read it... but I can't see it being worthy of a second time.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a timeless tale of religious hypocrisy and business corruption. Stephen Randall is an accomplished publicity executive who is at a turning point in his career. He has an opportunity to partner with a powerful huge company and become richer than he ever imagined. To do this, he is asked to take on a new client who is working on a secretive new religious project and drop another new client who exposes corporate corruption.

What starts as a straight forward business project soon turns into an exciting thriller. The reader just starts to feel they have a handle on what is true and then there is a twist in the narrative that takes us another direction.

A great story that starts a little slow and becomes one of those "can't put down" novels. The long chapters are very old-fashioned and a young reader (anyone under 50 years old) will find the sexist nature of the book off-putting. If you are over 50, I suspect it will bring back memories and remind you how far we have progressed socially.

[Alejandra Sandoval · Rating 2 out of 5]

1,5/5 Este libro me provoca cierta nostalgia, porque era de la biblioteca de mi papá, que falleció cuando yo era niña. Hace años lo inicié, pero lo fui posponiendo no se porqué (quizá por lo largo que era... porque en aquel tiempo me estaba gustando).

La trama se parece un poco a "El código Da Vinci" (la película, porque el libro no lo he leído... pero según investigué "La Palabra" se publicó muchísimos años antes) y, por el lado del terror, me recordó a "El evangelio del mal" (que me encantó). Y admito que no lo habría elegido de no haber sido de mi papá.

Mi mayor queja: los capítulos son excesivamente largos (734 páginas y solo 12 capítulos). Además, la introducción se me hizo eterna: reuniones, explicaciones y la vida del protagonista. Imagino que en su época pudo resultar fascinante, pero entre la propaganda religiosa y la falta de acción me aburrió bastante. El libro se las da de interesante, y el autor se empeña en presentar al protagonista (un simple publicista, aunque rico) como alguien supremamente fundamental para la trama, con un gran secreto que es importante ocultar, pero todo se queda en palabras. Me habría gustado ver el proceso arqueológico o más tensión que compensara el tema religioso. Seguí leyéndolo por dos razones: 1) era de mi papá y, 2) tras tantos años posponiéndolo, quise al menos conocer el final.

SPOILERS:
● Personajes:
Steven Randall, el protagonista, es jefe de una empresa de publicidad. Es un hombre quejoso, egocéntrico y contradictorio: reniega de la religión, pero adopta actitudes machistas y tradicionales cuando le conviene. Lleva años separado, pero se niega a divorciarse por puro ego, pese a tener amantes... Y relacionado a esto último cabe decir que el protagonista pasa manteniendo relaciones sexuales en TODA la novela y con mujeres distintas dándose aires de gran macho. Además, sus decisiones rozan lo absurdo: confiar secretos a una mujer que acaba de conocer, exponerse innecesariamente y aceptar entrevistarse con el enemigo. Supongo que el autor quiso hacer de él un “Indiana Jones” (que también creo que esta película se dio después de este libro, pero es con fines de comparación de conceptos) moderno metido en temas bíblicos, pero su actitud prepotente, sus decisiones estúpidas y la falta de acción lo hacen inverosímil.

El retrato de las mujeres tampoco me gustó: Casi todos los personajes femeninos aparecen retratados como sumisas o, en el otro extremo, como figuras negativas: promiscuas, ateas, drogadictas, infieles, mentirosas, tramposas o interesadas. Ninguna escapa de ser vista solo como un “cuerpo bonito” o como un problema más en la trama.
- Judy, la hija del protagonista, había sido drogadicta (culpa, según el padre, de la madre por “no cuidarla”).
- Bárbara, la exesposa, mantuvo relaciones con el psiquiatra de su hija y otros hombres (pero llevaban años separados).
- Darlene, la primera amante que aparece (de muchas), es descrita como una joven superficial, promiscua e interesada... que cuando le confiesa que quería casarse con él le aconseja alejarse de su hija (aquí me dio pena su ex Roy que aún la busca).
- Naomi, la secretaria de la empresa que contrata a Randall, es una exmonja cuya única función parece ser otra pareja sexual momentánea del protagonista.
- Ángela, otra jovencita hija del arqueólogo, es presentada como mentirosa y traicionera. Aquí cabe mencionar que el “amor” entre Steven y Ángela surge de la nada: un instalove basado en lo físico.
- Y por último Wanda, la secretaria leal que le sirve de consuelo en las últimas páginas.

● Reforzamiento de la fe:
Es triste ver cómo la “fe” renace en la población gracias a un descubrimiento arqueológico que demuestra la existencia de Jesús... cuando en realidad es una falsificación. Lo peor es que perfectamente podría volverse realidad, y aunque la idea positiva (fortalecer la fe, la bondad y la ayuda social) no estaba del todo mal, pero sí el hacerlo a partir de una mentira. Para colmo, el protagonista es tratado como un loco y coaccionado por oponerse a la corriente que sabe que es una farsa. Es deprimente.

● Posición del autor sobre la religión:
Soy católica, pero conceptos como “poner la otra mejilla” o “tener todos los hijos que Dios mande” no me convencen. Se nota la investigación que hizo el autor... sin embargo, la propaganda religiosa es excesiva y hasta agobiante. Pero dejando de lado lo exasperante que resulta, da la impresión de que el autor intenta adoctrinarnos o imponer sus creencias al lector. Además, se perciben actitudes homófobas, machistas y conservadoras a lo largo de la novela.

● Opinión final:
Lo más decepcionante fue el final: Justo cuando se empezaba a poner interesante la trama por el tema de la falsificación... y después de tantas idas y venidas, triunfa el mal. Se difunde un evangelio falso y los malos se benefician de el. Se asesina y chantajea sin que nadie pague las consecuencias. La fe resurge, pero sobre un engaño. La verdad queda oculta, y el mundo sigue viviendo en una mentira.
Lo único que rescato es la investigación y algunos datos curiosos (como los del Monte Athos) y que, al final, cobra sentido que la portada tenga ese pez y la flecha (jaja).

Tal vez si lo hubiera terminado cuando lo empecé me habría gustado más este libro. Ahora no se lo recomendaría a nadie. Desde el título se ve venir la trama religiosa, pero termina resultando excesivo. A eso se suma la falta de acción y la presencia de situaciones y personajes absurdos. Quería que me gustara, pero pasó todo lo contrario… Soy consciente de que influye el contexto de la época en que fue escrito, pero aun así no puedo evitar sentirme decepcionada. La puntuación se la doy más por la nostalgia, porque toda la lectura solo me provocó poner los ojos en blanco.

[Alistair Ravie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first remember this story as a mini series with David Jannsen. After the series I decided to read the book. Now it seems only available in the UK on Kindle.

It revolves around a publicist who is recruited by a secretive bible group to publish a new version of the gospel with a new additional testament. He seeks to find out more about the origin of the testament and finds himself in danger or being the source of danger to those around. The story of the new testaments origins are uncovered but all proof is gone. In the end the new testament is published and he can do nothing about it.

[Abhishek · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Dan Brown, you'll like this.
Gives another encore to the clouded, covert facets of Christianity.
A slight taste of French tangled with English... Irving Wallace has written a masterpiece.

Lenghty--at times boring,repetitive...but enviuosly awesome :)

[Hanjinax · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certainly a fascinating idea for a novel... it was good but never broke into greatness for me.

[Russell Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some fifty or so years ago, I discovered the novels of Irving Wallace. At the time, I read six or seven of his works and thought he was the greatest novelist who ever wrote. Recently, I decided to re-read one of his novels. I chose The Word, a sprawling tale of the discovery of a supposed new testament, written by James the Just, detailing his brother Jesus’s life after crucifixion. Yes, in this testament, Jesus has survived the cross and lived another twenty or so years. The protagonist Steve Randall is hired to publicize this new Bible being published. Randall, however, seems to believe the thing is a fraud, and he sets out to expose the deception—in almost 600 pages of sometimes nail-biting intensity and other times endless description. I give kudos to Wallace for his research. He appears to know everything about the Bible, Biblical times, and ancient languages, not to mention Italian laws about unearthed antiquities and, briefly, French law procedures. This novelist is one who cared about his authenticity to the extreme. I, however, who must have had more reading energy in my youth, got extremely tired this time around wading through the seemingly endless background stories told and, at times, re-told. For example, the character LeBrun’s back story is related to Randall in a lengthy telling, and then Randall meets LeBrun, and LeBrun tells his backstory again from his personal viewpoint, this time in twice as much detail. I was surprised, at least, that when Randall relates the backstory yet again, he did abbreviate it. As for the tale well-told (and, as I said, sometimes over-told) it is magnificent. These days I like my books to top off at about 300 pages or less, but I eagerly awaited the next fifty page installment of this book—I read in bed, and fifty pages is about all I can manage before drifting off—until the book came to an end. I’m not sure I liked the ending, but I do know it fit beautifully with the Randall character as described at the beginning of the novel. Randall begins as a conflicted soul, goes on his long journey to enlightenment, and does, indeed, come out enlightened. Besides Randall, the characters are well-developed, and, as previously stated, there is more than enough backstory on each to get to know them before we join them on Randall’s journey. One character, though, I did not like, did not trust, and, even later in the novel, when she was supposedly redeemed in Randall’s eyes, I still did not like nor trust her. Wallace wants us to believe she is good, and in fact, he lets Randall believe in her. But I didn’t buy it for a minute. But, then again, it’s not for me to re-write another author’s work. If Wallace liked her, then so be it. As for The Word, it is timely some forty years after its being written. We are all, I think, searching for something to believe in, and that’s the crux of this book.

[CA Bhushan · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a story of a publicist, who is hired to promote a new gospel discovery, and finds himself investigating the authenticity of the same, because of some co-incidents. he discovers that the discovered gospel is a total forgery, but can not prove it, as the person, who had the evidence, is murdered. the greed for profits/fame/success, from the antagonists defeats the hero, but through all this, he realizes his true calling and changes his business. the first half is pretty slow, but a must to facilitate the thrill in the second half. the author has researched for this book extensively, as usual, and provides a lot of history regarding the bible, and the times of Christ. however, some part of the book is unnecessary. we often talk of the power of knowledge, but in this story, the author illustrates how the power, greed, and the attitude to be successful at all costs manipulates the truth, as per the convenience of the winners. i felt disappointed for the hero, who, in spite of knowing the truth, can not win. but the story is excellent, and leaves us with the question, whether the end justifies the means.

[Ariadna Marengo · Rating 3 out of 5]

En las ruinas de Ostia Antica el profesor Augusto Monti descubre unos papiros del s. I d.C. que, después de someterlo a diferentes pruebas, resulta ser el documento Q que tanto se esperaba: el Evangelio según Santiago. Steve Randall es contactado para hacer uso de sus servicios como publicista para que una nueva versión de la Biblia (que incluya el nuevo evangelio) tenga una gran acogida.

El libro en sí no me resultó malo. La idea es muy buena, pero había demasiado relleno y los personajes los sentí muy sosos. Me apuré en terminarlo porque ya quería dejar de leer ese libro y encontrar otro que pudiera gustarme más. Me costó demasiado llegar a la mitad y creo que comencé a "disfrutarlo" en el último tercio del libro.
Le di tres estrellas y no 2 porque he leído libros peores y porque este libro no es realmente malo, solo tiene relleno innecesario que me distrajo y aburrió por momentos.

[James Prabhakar · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a college student pursuing my graduate studies four decades ago, I read my first Irving Wallace book, The Word.

The Word started off a little slowly compared to other books I've read, such those by James Hadley Chase. However, given my knowledge of the context and history of the Holy Bible, I am already familiar with some of the topics covered in the book.

Thus, I could understand better. I read every page in the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I finished it in around 10 days.

I was inspired to read all of Irving Wallce's other books after reading this one. The seven Minutes was the next novel I read. Then came The Man. I read practically all of Irving Wallace's novels up until his passing.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably read this book half a century ago, but it was like starting over again. Irving Wallace was a terrific storyteller, coming up with fascinating plots throughout his many literary hits (The Prize, The Chapman Report, The Man). As a writer, he left a lot to be desired. His fiction is awkward and stilted at times, not exactly sounding trippingly on the tongue. Still, The Word is a good story about the possible uncovering of a major historical addition to the Bible, written by James, the brother of Jesus. Lots of intrigue abound, with many colorful characters throughout the narrative. It's a strong book, just not so delicate to the ear.

[Kathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

7/10
Better than I expected. The author has a way with words (too many of them at times) and the story, for the most part, moves right along. Randall, the main character, is not particularly likable, yet I found myself rooting for him to figure things out, both in his personal life and professional dealings. In some ways, the star of the story is, in fact, the “Word”—the newly discovered gospel—and its impact on those who come in contact with it.