The Thorn of Arimathea

by Frank G. Slaughter

Vintage paperback

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Historical

296 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 1977

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

[Linda Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a typical Frank G Slaughter work, biblical historical fiction based on early history of the church. I appreciate his ability to elaborate on religious figures of the time of Christ and build a story from existing legends. There is no doubt that the author was a deeply devout believer.

Quintus Volusianus is a Roman physician, formerly a member of the Emperor Tiberius’s Praetorian Guard. He has been given a commission to travel from Rome to Judea to find Jesus of Nazareth, whose reputation for curing the sick has captured the attention of the now ill Emperor and bring him to Tiberius with hope he will be able to restore his health. Early in his quest Quintus meets the family of Abijah, the potter. There he learns the Jesus was crucified two years previously and that his followers believe that he rose from the dead. He also meets the lovely Veronica, daughter of Abijah, who becomes his wife. He becomes acquainted with Joseph of Arimathea and soon journeys back to Rome. He witnesses Simon Magus’s public restoration of life to a seemingly deceased man, and after a time travels to Caledonia(modern day Scotland).

Unfortunately this novel was published in 1959 before the practice of inserting a map into a novel when appropriate became almost common practice. It certainly would have been more convenient if one was among the printed pages.

[Judith Wrinkle]

Loved this one. So Bibical and romantic

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story.

[Isabel Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Por todo el Imperio romano se propagan rumores de los milagros y curaciones de Jesús de Nazaret. Quinto Volusiano, médico del emperador Tiberio, emprende el largo y penoso camino que separa Roma de Jerusalén para traerse consigo al fabuloso sanador, última esperanza que queda para salvar al emperador agonizante. Pero hacía ya dos años que Jesús, el Rey de Reyes, traicionado por uno de sus discípulos había sido coronado de espinas y crucificado en el Calvario.
Esta es la única sinopsis que encontre en la red; pero el libro es mucho más rico en cuanto a tramas y datos históricos. No se que tan verídicos sean, los hechos y los personajes, pero el autor es particularmente bueno al plantear un "después" de la crucificción, con personajes míticos como José de Arimatea y la Verónica y su mítico velo.

[Peter Lees · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written biblical based story set in the years immediately following the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. While the story is fiction, it cleverly weaves historical people, events and places into a most enjoyable read.

To enhance my enjoyment of the story, I plotted the historical names of places mentioned in the book on a map of the ancient world at that time. I was then able to identify many of the places on current world maps.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poorly done. I really didn't read this book for the sake of a good story but for the historical insight into ancient Britain. Plot was weak and cheesy and unrealistic I thought. And on top of all that, its supposed to be a Christian book, yet teaches some very non-Christian ideals and an unbiblical storyline. Not recommended.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quintus, a Roman physician, searches for Jesus, but learns he has been crucified. He meets Veronica of the Veil and Joseph of Arimathea, and Pontius Pilate. They travel to Rome, then Gaul, and end up in Druidic England.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book as a teen and it is still good, but better for a teen read than an adult. An easy to read story filled with history of Rome, Judea and Gaul, in ancient times.

[Joylina Faroz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this books translated in marathi and its really worth reading

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of Joseph of Arimathea, Veronica, and the legend of their coming to England. Strong story for the most part, read fairly quickly. 3.75

[Gail Gawlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, little story that takes up the lives of a Roman physician and some early Christians in the time of Caligula. Perfect reading for Lent/Easter.

[Freyja Vanadis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I inherited this book from my grandpa some 35 years ago. Back when I was a teenager, I loved this book and read it repeatedly. However, I haven't read it in all these years so I don't know how I'll like it. Based on his book The Road to Bithynia, which I just finished, I may not like it so much. We'll see.
***Update***
It wasn't quite as preachy as Bithynia was, so I do like it a little better.