The Galileans: A Novel of Mary Magdalene

by Frank G. Slaughter

Life forever changes for Joseph of Galilee, a young physician, when he meets Mary of Magdala, a beautiful dancer bent on revenge against a haughty Roman officer, Gaius Flaccus. And then they both come face-to-face with Jesus of Nazareth and uncover a plot to kill him. Can they help? Should they? 

A novel originally published in 1953, beautifully captures Biblical times and allows the reader to be drawn into the story, a story like none other, when God walked among men and women.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Religion

309 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Frank Gill Slaughter , pen-name Frank G. Slaughter, pseudonym C.V. Terry, was an American novelist and physician whose books sold more than 60 million copies. His novels drew on his own experience as a doctor and his interest in history and the Bible. Through his novels, he often introduced readers to new findings in medical research and new medical technologies.

Slaughter was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Stephen Lucious Slaughter and Sarah "Sallie" Nicholson Gill. When he was about five years old, his family moved to a farm near Berea, North Carolina, which is west of Oxford, North Carolina. He earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity College (now Duke University) at 17 and went to medical school at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He began writing fiction in 1935 while a physician at Riverside Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

Books by Slaughter include The Purple Quest, Surgeon, U.S.A., Epidemic! , Tomorrow's Miracle and The Scarlet Cord. Slaughter died May 17, 2001 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Galileans by Dr. Frank Slaughter reads like the masturbatory fantasy of a narcisstic Christian physician. This so-called "Novel of Mary Magdalene" is in actuality the imagined love story of Joseph of Arithmea and Mary Magdalene, and Joseph is the real main character here. He is portrayed as an accomplished surgeon and brave savior of Mary Magdalene, while in actuality, the bible says Joseph is a rich trader of metals, as well as an early follower of Christ and bearer of Christ's body to the garden grave. (He is also, according to legend, the one who brings the Holy Grail to England.) Mary Magdalene is, of course, the famous follower of Christ, venerated by the Gnostic's as Christ's companion and historically falsely maligned as a prostitute. Somehow Dr. Slaughter manages to take these hugely interesting figures and create a "damsel in distress" fantasy, in which a rich, brave surgeon repeatedly saves the super-sexy Mary from danger.

I admit, it was very entertaining. Dr. Slaughter's use of setting and his detailed research into the medical practices of ancient times appeals to my inner nerd. But this book was written in the 1950s, and a modern reading necessitates a feminist critique. By twisting Joseph of Arythmia into a doctor and Mary of Magdalene into some sexy damsel in distress, Dr. Slaughter appears to present us, not with historical fiction, but with his own grandiose fantasies.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pulled this book out of one of numerous stacks of books in the attic,and found a birthday card to my grandmother dated april 1953. It was a gift to her from a church friend. This was a great book to read through holy week, as it follows Mary Magdalene and Joseph of Arimathea and their budding faith in The Christ.
Frank Slaughter's books are always so enjoyable and I would suggest this read to everyone.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

There were many problems with this book, but probably the most annoying for me was how much everything revolves around how the main character, Joseph, is a physician. You can tell the author is a surgeon, because the (many) medical procedures Joseph performs in the book are described in such detail you could use it as a manual. I'm like I get it, you saved the chief thief's life, do you really need to explain exactly where you made each incision and every other gory detail? Even every instrument in his medical bag is named and described, along with its purpose and history. I appreciate that the author did his research, but it felt like showing off rather than adding to the story. And then there is the physician's importance. Joseph becomes a famous physician and, conveniently, EVERYONE has heard of him and is in awe of him. Even at the very end, Joseph recognises the risen Jesus and the other guy doesn't, and Mary says it's because Joseph is a physician. What?!?

As far as the story, most of it takes place when Mary of Magdala is a dancer and there are a lot of scantily dressed women and men with fixed gazes and quickening pulses and so on. No spoilers but I'll just say Mary has her share of problems for most of the book, but then Joseph and Mary are separated for awhile, and the next time Joseph sees her BAM! She is following Jesus and is a changed woman, which according to the author apparently means she suddenly has a very blah personality, she is the ONLY one who really understands Jesus's mission, and sometimes when she talks there are tears streaming down her face (sorry, but that line got old). I was hoping that all the time spent with the characters would give some additional insight or a new perspective on the death of Jesus, but that section is very short and there isn't a whole lot there besides what is already in the gospels. Less, actually, since the author makes it sound like Mary Magdalene and Physician Joseph were the only ones who were there at the end. No mention that St John or Jesus's mother were around at all.

Conclusion: Some aspects were well researched, but unless you're a doctor interested in ancient medical practices I would skip this one.

[Matt Kelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for work (really). It was better than expected. Still cheesy trash, with a far-too-obvious Christian message, but surprisingly well researched and good for explaining the history of the time and what was going on.

[Dai Branada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good and then boring... I did have a lot expectations with the title...

[Evaramni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuenta la vida de María Magdalena, y aquellos aspectos que nadie conoce, aunque alguno, me imagino, que son producto de la inventiva del autor. Se me hizo un poco pesado.

[Belle Meade School]

F
Sla

[Kindra Back · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story but not Biblically accurate. Some parts feel more informative and doesn't read very smooth.

[Aldo Giusti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excelente libro, con un detalado estudio de las costumbres, vestimentas y paisaje de la epoca de Cristo.
La historia se basa en un medico judio que conoce y se enamora de Maria Magdalena y a traves de sus ojos conocemos la historia de esta mujer, los judios y romanos de la epoca y la historia de Jesus. Sin embargo no utiliza la figura de Jesus ni se aprovecha de EL para su historia, es mas bien un personaje secundario que se nos presenta a cuentagotas y solo cuando la historia de fondo lo necesita.
Un libro historico que destaca por el acabado estudio del personaje y las costumbres de la epoca.

[Lindsey DeLost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it a lot. The author clearly had done much research for historical accuracy. I did feel that the blurb on the back was a bit misleading as more than 2/3 had nothing to do with Mary meeting Jesus.