Hidden Years: A Novel About Jesus

by Neil Boyd

By the author of the 'Bless me Father' books, this is a novel about the life of Jesus before his 'public ministry' and is well written and evocative. It can scarcely avoid being a bit 'pi' but it does show the ways in which a young man in Cl Palestine would become fired with ideals as a result of his observations whilst growing up. For anyone wanting to know the background to the political situation, this is more palatable that the stuff in NT commentaries about Sadducees and so on and it doesn't do the dirty on pharisaical Judaism as many similar books do. A nice touch is in the way Jesus experiences certain events which are identifiable as parables in the gospels - he is beaten up by zealots and it is a Samaritan who helps him &c. Also, he meets Peter and Andrew &c. before he calls them.

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1984

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

pseudonym of Peter de Rosa

Reviews

[Wanda]

A novel, speculating the life of Jesus, that's not recorded, just before his ministry. Actual truth facts mixed in.
Thought provoking.

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I preferred the parts that were in someone else's POV. There is nothing supernatural in the account. Jesus clearly does not know his identity early on although he is aware of destiny. I expected his identity to be revealed to him at baptism, but the Dove seems to be an optical illusion seen by John. Even the devil is in Jesus' mind. The Temptation is very well-handled as a discussion of faith vs formal religion. The book is worth reading and very thought provoking.