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The Wife of John the Baptist
Hessa has an unusual talent. She can tell a person’s innermost secrets by touching them with her intuitive hands. As the daughter of a rich, Greek trader living in Judea, Hessa is taught to be the spinner of her future husband’s fate, and share his fate to her death.
Hessa and her maids often play a game in which she touches people’s hands to learn their secrets. Then one day, they encounter a stranger named John, a charismatic, young man who is rumored to be a prophet. He is taller than most men, but the most striking thing about him is that he has the beautiful, dark eyes of a wild girl.
Hessa’s maid whispers in her ear, “I dare you to find a reason to touch his hand.”
This one sentence plunges Hessa into the terrifying reality of Roman-occupied Judea, where elderly priests are murdered, Zealot rebels are beheaded and even innocent women and children are slaughtered and forgotten.
Running away to marry John, Hessa finds that everyone demands something of him, from the mystery cults living along the Jordan, to the rough Zealots who want him to lead them in a war against Rome. But only Hessa knows the secrets of this mysterious man known as John the Baptist.
In this intimate portrayal of a marriage, rich storytelling combined with epic history give us an unforgettable story, as only the wife of John the Baptist can tell it.
Hessa and her maids often play a game in which she touches people’s hands to learn their secrets. Then one day, they encounter a stranger named John, a charismatic, young man who is rumored to be a prophet. He is taller than most men, but the most striking thing about him is that he has the beautiful, dark eyes of a wild girl.
Hessa’s maid whispers in her ear, “I dare you to find a reason to touch his hand.”
This one sentence plunges Hessa into the terrifying reality of Roman-occupied Judea, where elderly priests are murdered, Zealot rebels are beheaded and even innocent women and children are slaughtered and forgotten.
Running away to marry John, Hessa finds that everyone demands something of him, from the mystery cults living along the Jordan, to the rough Zealots who want him to lead them in a war against Rome. But only Hessa knows the secrets of this mysterious man known as John the Baptist.
In this intimate portrayal of a marriage, rich storytelling combined with epic history give us an unforgettable story, as only the wife of John the Baptist can tell it.
172 pages, Paperback
First published January 14, 2014
8 people are currently reading
754 people want to read
About the author
K. Ford K.
2 books41 followersI became a storyteller by accident. It all began in Mexico where I attended university and where I learned to accept the supernatural as a normal part of life. From the revered opinions of the local witch, to the preparation of meals for dead grandmothers, I learned to see the world through different eyes and I came to understand that things are not always what they seem.
Later, on my way to attend a university in France, I traveled to Morocco. I stopped at a marketplace in Marrakesh and while eating my lunch of dates and oranges, I watched a tattered beggar transform himself into a storyteller. He moved with the practiced gestures and fantastic expressions of his trade, surrounded by a growing circle of people who listened to him with eyes wide open, their own lives forgotten. In another culture, at another time he might have been a rich man, but here he was selling beautiful tales for coins in the dusty marketplace. I longed to be like him, this mendicant from Marrakesh.
Years later, I moved to Tokyo to teach and write articles for The Tokyo Weekender Magazine. Every day I traveled the crowded trains, sharing space and breath with millions of strangers.
There amid the crushing humanity, I watched the surreal combinations of east and west in language and life, the painful and beautiful growth that occurs when two cultures collide. I witnessed two public suicides, and felt firsthand not only the temporality of life but also the beauty of a single moment.
The time spent crushed between strangers, doors and windows of the train became a quiet meditative place where I learned to accept life and death. There on that Tokyo train, I began to write novels in my head, while that tattered beggar from Marrakesh, who had captivated me years before, whispered in my ear like a nagging dead man, “Tell me a story.”
Later, on my way to attend a university in France, I traveled to Morocco. I stopped at a marketplace in Marrakesh and while eating my lunch of dates and oranges, I watched a tattered beggar transform himself into a storyteller. He moved with the practiced gestures and fantastic expressions of his trade, surrounded by a growing circle of people who listened to him with eyes wide open, their own lives forgotten. In another culture, at another time he might have been a rich man, but here he was selling beautiful tales for coins in the dusty marketplace. I longed to be like him, this mendicant from Marrakesh.
Years later, I moved to Tokyo to teach and write articles for The Tokyo Weekender Magazine. Every day I traveled the crowded trains, sharing space and breath with millions of strangers.
There amid the crushing humanity, I watched the surreal combinations of east and west in language and life, the painful and beautiful growth that occurs when two cultures collide. I witnessed two public suicides, and felt firsthand not only the temporality of life but also the beauty of a single moment.
The time spent crushed between strangers, doors and windows of the train became a quiet meditative place where I learned to accept life and death. There on that Tokyo train, I began to write novels in my head, while that tattered beggar from Marrakesh, who had captivated me years before, whispered in my ear like a nagging dead man, “Tell me a story.”
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 26, 2014
Book Description:
“History and fiction merge beautifully in K. Ford K.'s vibrant, breathtaking novel about the man who became John the Baptist and the woman who loved him, his wife.
Hessa, the daughter of a Greek trader, has an unusual talent, but in preparation for her marriage to a wealthy man, she learns that she will have no real destiny of her own. Instead, she is taught to be the spinner of her husband’s fate and share his fate to her death. But when Hessa meets a charismatic, young man named John, who is rumored to be a prophet, she falls in love and runs away to marry him.
Thrown into the turmoil of Roman-occupied Judea, Hessa struggles to protect her husband, but what if her actions unwittingly lead to the destiny she fears most?
The Wife of John the Baptist is a novel, rich with historical insight. It uncovers the mystery of a man who was greatly admired in his time, and who changed our way of thinking forever.
A victory of the heart, this intimate portrayal of a marriage is a tribute to the timeless and unshakable love that triumphs when all else is lost.”
John the Orphan. John the Righteous. John the Hermit. Prophet. Messiah. Elijah. Isaiah…..the man who would eventually become John the Baptist.
Who was he? What if he had a wife? Children? What would their lives have been like? Told in Hessa’s voice, K. Ford K. crafts a beautifully woven fictional account about a man in which very little is known.
In a fittingly imagined terrain, she transports the reader into the lives of John the Baptist, his could-have-been wife Hessa and their journey together. Her talent for bringing the ancient past to life will captivate the reader with a fascinating and intriguing look at man who was during his time widely known, followed and respected for his preaching and practice of baptism for the forgiveness of sins. A compelling read.
“History and fiction merge beautifully in K. Ford K.'s vibrant, breathtaking novel about the man who became John the Baptist and the woman who loved him, his wife.
Hessa, the daughter of a Greek trader, has an unusual talent, but in preparation for her marriage to a wealthy man, she learns that she will have no real destiny of her own. Instead, she is taught to be the spinner of her husband’s fate and share his fate to her death. But when Hessa meets a charismatic, young man named John, who is rumored to be a prophet, she falls in love and runs away to marry him.
Thrown into the turmoil of Roman-occupied Judea, Hessa struggles to protect her husband, but what if her actions unwittingly lead to the destiny she fears most?
The Wife of John the Baptist is a novel, rich with historical insight. It uncovers the mystery of a man who was greatly admired in his time, and who changed our way of thinking forever.
A victory of the heart, this intimate portrayal of a marriage is a tribute to the timeless and unshakable love that triumphs when all else is lost.”
John the Orphan. John the Righteous. John the Hermit. Prophet. Messiah. Elijah. Isaiah…..the man who would eventually become John the Baptist.
Who was he? What if he had a wife? Children? What would their lives have been like? Told in Hessa’s voice, K. Ford K. crafts a beautifully woven fictional account about a man in which very little is known.
In a fittingly imagined terrain, she transports the reader into the lives of John the Baptist, his could-have-been wife Hessa and their journey together. Her talent for bringing the ancient past to life will captivate the reader with a fascinating and intriguing look at man who was during his time widely known, followed and respected for his preaching and practice of baptism for the forgiveness of sins. A compelling read.
March 30, 2014
As usual I received this book free in exchange for a review, this time from the author. Also as usual I will give my absolutely candid opinions below.
This novel is a rather unique blend of religion, history and the supernatural. Our protagonist is the daughter of a rich Greek merchant who can sense the history of people and objects merely by touching them. This by itself is a sufficiently unusual beginning to pique most interest and it only gets better from there.
On the positive side, this book is full of intricate historical details but doesn't really assume that you know anything about the life of everyday people during the life of Christ. The author very patiently explains everything from wedding rituals and menstruation to bathing habits. If nothing else this book is a grand history lesson. If that's not enough, the book is also a passionate story of love found and lost and found again. One could easily and happily take this whole book in in a single sitting.
To the negative, there's not much to say but for the span of 10 pages or so there's a prolonged recital of John's history that made my eyes glaze over and I almost put away the book. It struck as a discordant note in the narrative and I had to flip ahead several pages to avoid it. Also, it should be noted that I don't really know the true history of any of these events so I can't speak to their accuracy but I will say that nothing in the book rang out as obviously contrived. It seems to keep very truly to its primitive historical roots.
In summary, a beautifully wrought and detailed fiction wrapped around one of the most noted names in all of history. If you're religious or just love a good historical fiction then this is highly recommended as long as you're not easily offended by a lot of sexual references because apparently they do that quite a bit in the first century A.D.
This novel is a rather unique blend of religion, history and the supernatural. Our protagonist is the daughter of a rich Greek merchant who can sense the history of people and objects merely by touching them. This by itself is a sufficiently unusual beginning to pique most interest and it only gets better from there.
On the positive side, this book is full of intricate historical details but doesn't really assume that you know anything about the life of everyday people during the life of Christ. The author very patiently explains everything from wedding rituals and menstruation to bathing habits. If nothing else this book is a grand history lesson. If that's not enough, the book is also a passionate story of love found and lost and found again. One could easily and happily take this whole book in in a single sitting.
To the negative, there's not much to say but for the span of 10 pages or so there's a prolonged recital of John's history that made my eyes glaze over and I almost put away the book. It struck as a discordant note in the narrative and I had to flip ahead several pages to avoid it. Also, it should be noted that I don't really know the true history of any of these events so I can't speak to their accuracy but I will say that nothing in the book rang out as obviously contrived. It seems to keep very truly to its primitive historical roots.
In summary, a beautifully wrought and detailed fiction wrapped around one of the most noted names in all of history. If you're religious or just love a good historical fiction then this is highly recommended as long as you're not easily offended by a lot of sexual references because apparently they do that quite a bit in the first century A.D.
February 11, 2015
Beautiful descriptions and vivid depictions of a well-researched historical world characterize K. Ford K’s The Wife of John the Baptist. Readers willing to accept that “truth is more complicated than lies, and as elusive as sand-colored birds in the desert,” will enjoy a wonderful romance, set around a young Greek woman and the mysterious Jewish man she meets on a secret visit to the market. Hessa loves the market, loves life, and loves the world outside her well-walled childhood mansion. But is she ready for the down-to-earth life of an itinerant peasant?
The novel is set around the River Jordan, in the time of Christ. But it’s set within a much larger world, where philosophers discuss “Plato’s ideals: immortality of the soul and whether virtues such as courage, wisdom and moderation could be taught.” Young Hessa listens in, and soon she’s learning courage and wisdom, while counseling moderation, as she marries a man fated to be a prophet. But, as she and he both know, prophets die.
The author depicts nomadic life at the river’s edge just as convincingly and authentically as big-city, rich-Greek life. Combining mysticism with religion, bringing readers deep into a world that is at “a crossroads filled with people from many lands,” and successfully recreating the historical background of a world-wide religion, without ever referencing Christ or Christianity, she evokes a sense of longing and awe, and a “waiting for God” who “maybe ... is waiting for you.”
If you’re looking for standard Christian fiction, this isn’t the novel for you. But if you love well-researched history, well-phrased questions, well-drawn physical romance, and well-written female characters, you’ll love this depiction of the woman behind the man. I certainly did.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review.
The novel is set around the River Jordan, in the time of Christ. But it’s set within a much larger world, where philosophers discuss “Plato’s ideals: immortality of the soul and whether virtues such as courage, wisdom and moderation could be taught.” Young Hessa listens in, and soon she’s learning courage and wisdom, while counseling moderation, as she marries a man fated to be a prophet. But, as she and he both know, prophets die.
The author depicts nomadic life at the river’s edge just as convincingly and authentically as big-city, rich-Greek life. Combining mysticism with religion, bringing readers deep into a world that is at “a crossroads filled with people from many lands,” and successfully recreating the historical background of a world-wide religion, without ever referencing Christ or Christianity, she evokes a sense of longing and awe, and a “waiting for God” who “maybe ... is waiting for you.”
If you’re looking for standard Christian fiction, this isn’t the novel for you. But if you love well-researched history, well-phrased questions, well-drawn physical romance, and well-written female characters, you’ll love this depiction of the woman behind the man. I certainly did.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review.
January 27, 2014
Told in Hessa’s voice, this novel reveals the mystery of a man who was greatly admired in his time and who changed our way of thinking forever. Rich storytelling combined with epic history give us an unforgettable story, as only the wife of John the Baptist could tell it.
February 9, 2022
CW: no spoilers if you already know the life of John the Baptist.
Did John the Baptist have a wife? Some historians suggest it would have been likely because of his age and his status as a Rabbi. Early on in the novel K Ford K uses the narrative to respond to readers questioning the wife’s existence “A woman, in those days, was not counted. So even after we were married, people continued to say that John lived alone in the wilderness.”
I am always interested in stories written around biblical characters. Of necessity there are many gaps to be filled – whether of people, places or events. So to me, whether John might have married or not wasn’t an issue. As soon as I read the story was a reimagining of the life of John the Baptist, and included the supernatural I was sold!
The narrator is Hessa, the only child of a rich Greek merchant, who has a psychic gift. Through touching an object or a person she gains insight into their experience. She can see the craftsmen who created the objects or cloth her father brings home from trips to other countries. She can read the thoughts of a trader in the market, or a visitor to the camp where she lives with John. This gift finds an echo in John, when he start to use his hands to baptise camp followers in the River Jordan.
Hessa is being lined up for a marriage that will strengthen her father’s trading relationships. So her sudden and unauthorised marriage to a charismatic but itinerant Jewish preacher stuns and shatters the family.
This novel is rich in historical detail of the era in which is set, which lends a solidity and authenticity to the story. We smell the market place and the Temple, the River Jordan and the City of Salt where the Essenes live: “The market smelled like sour meat hanging in the sun, tangy olives, bread cooking over a flame, sweat, animal droppings, and above all, the powerful aroma of spices and oranges tinged with dust”. We hear the “cacophony of different languages: Greek, Aramaic, and the colorful dialects of Egypt and Syria”. The detail is woven into the story lightly, and does not slow down the flow of the narrative.
I have really enjoyed this story – it will go on my to-be-reread pile. The novel is short at 173 pages, but it felt the perfect length for this story. I felt deeply connected to John and Hessa and, even though I knew how John dies from the bible, the brutal imagining of his death and events immediately afterwards shocked me, and left me pretty emotional.
Do read: if you like a well-imagined historical novel with rounded characters and a good pace.
Don’t read: if you’re expecting a biblical story. Jesus is mentioned once.
Did John the Baptist have a wife? Some historians suggest it would have been likely because of his age and his status as a Rabbi. Early on in the novel K Ford K uses the narrative to respond to readers questioning the wife’s existence “A woman, in those days, was not counted. So even after we were married, people continued to say that John lived alone in the wilderness.”
I am always interested in stories written around biblical characters. Of necessity there are many gaps to be filled – whether of people, places or events. So to me, whether John might have married or not wasn’t an issue. As soon as I read the story was a reimagining of the life of John the Baptist, and included the supernatural I was sold!
The narrator is Hessa, the only child of a rich Greek merchant, who has a psychic gift. Through touching an object or a person she gains insight into their experience. She can see the craftsmen who created the objects or cloth her father brings home from trips to other countries. She can read the thoughts of a trader in the market, or a visitor to the camp where she lives with John. This gift finds an echo in John, when he start to use his hands to baptise camp followers in the River Jordan.
Hessa is being lined up for a marriage that will strengthen her father’s trading relationships. So her sudden and unauthorised marriage to a charismatic but itinerant Jewish preacher stuns and shatters the family.
This novel is rich in historical detail of the era in which is set, which lends a solidity and authenticity to the story. We smell the market place and the Temple, the River Jordan and the City of Salt where the Essenes live: “The market smelled like sour meat hanging in the sun, tangy olives, bread cooking over a flame, sweat, animal droppings, and above all, the powerful aroma of spices and oranges tinged with dust”. We hear the “cacophony of different languages: Greek, Aramaic, and the colorful dialects of Egypt and Syria”. The detail is woven into the story lightly, and does not slow down the flow of the narrative.
I have really enjoyed this story – it will go on my to-be-reread pile. The novel is short at 173 pages, but it felt the perfect length for this story. I felt deeply connected to John and Hessa and, even though I knew how John dies from the bible, the brutal imagining of his death and events immediately afterwards shocked me, and left me pretty emotional.
Do read: if you like a well-imagined historical novel with rounded characters and a good pace.
Don’t read: if you’re expecting a biblical story. Jesus is mentioned once.
Want to read
April 6, 2022how do you get a free coppy realy want to reed this are cud some one tell me the name of his wife just pleas
March 8, 2014
K. Ford K.’s THE WIFE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST is a very unusual novel. She retells the story of John the Baptist from the perspective of his supposed wife, a woman whose existence is not supported in biblical or historical texts. But this isn’t a religious novel so much as it is a love story, set along the banks of the River Jordan in Judea. Hessa is the daughter of a wealthy Greek merchant, destined to marry the son of one of her father’s business associates. But when she meets young John in the market in Judea, the two are immediately drawn to each other. Hessa courageously leaves her father’s home and her comfortable life to marry John and follow him in his spiritual journey.
Those familiar with the story of John the Baptist will recognize many elements of Hessa’s tale, including their years living in the wilderness, John’s use of baptism in the River Jordan to bless and purify his followers, his reluctance to assume his prophesized role as leader and profit, and his eventual arrest and beheading at the command of Herod Antipas. But K.’s novel, which is narrated by Hessa, focuses much more on the community in which she and John live, their marriage, and her determination to support him in his meditations, his preaching, and his quest for God’s message. At one point, near the end of the novel, he tells her, “Without you as my wife, I would have stayed in the wilderness and done nothing.” In that way, the novel is an affirmation of the strength and purpose of women at a time when women had little standing beyond their roles as wives and mothers.
What interested me most about K.’s novel is how this well-known biblical story becomes a very down-to-earth portrayal of ordinary people struggling with extraordinary events. John and Hessa are no different from married couples today – they make love, struggle with finances, worry about the future, and doubt each other in times of stress. K. isn’t shy in describing John’s sexual appetite for Hessa, and their rather modern sexual practices. She also suggests that John had an eye for the ladies, even after his marriage to Hessa, which causes problems in their relationship. Since there’s no evidence that the historical John the Baptist was married at all, the story K. tells is one of her own imagining. But by humanizing John, she gives us insight into the very real difficulties of assuming a leadership role in difficult times. John resists the role of profit that was placed on him in childhood, and his retreat to the wilderness is in many ways an attempt to separate himself from the demands he wishes to escape. When his visions finally convince him to accept his role as profit, his marriage to Hessa becomes strained. But it’s her strength and dedication that enables him to fulfill his role and influence history.
There is but one brief mention of Jesus in this novel, as one of the many men John baptizes in the River Jordan. Hessa says that “John was very impressed with him,” but that’s all. This isn’t a particularly religious novel, and the story has little to do with either the Jewish or Christian faith. Instead, it’s one woman’s story of love and honor for a man destined to do great things. John’s message is a simple one: “Anyone can be forgiven. All good souls are free.” He insists that he is not the Messiah, but that “another will come” (there is no suggestion here that he is referring to Jesus), and he advises his followers to “do justice, love kindness, walk humbly.” It’s a message all can embrace, regardless of religious belief.
I enjoyed THE WIFE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST – Hessa’s story is engaging, honest, and totally believable. I could imagine her in the wilderness with John, grinding wheat for their bread, gathering firewood, and making love to him in the waters of the River Jordan. Theirs is a lovely and spiritual story. I highly recommend this novel.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this book for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
Those familiar with the story of John the Baptist will recognize many elements of Hessa’s tale, including their years living in the wilderness, John’s use of baptism in the River Jordan to bless and purify his followers, his reluctance to assume his prophesized role as leader and profit, and his eventual arrest and beheading at the command of Herod Antipas. But K.’s novel, which is narrated by Hessa, focuses much more on the community in which she and John live, their marriage, and her determination to support him in his meditations, his preaching, and his quest for God’s message. At one point, near the end of the novel, he tells her, “Without you as my wife, I would have stayed in the wilderness and done nothing.” In that way, the novel is an affirmation of the strength and purpose of women at a time when women had little standing beyond their roles as wives and mothers.
What interested me most about K.’s novel is how this well-known biblical story becomes a very down-to-earth portrayal of ordinary people struggling with extraordinary events. John and Hessa are no different from married couples today – they make love, struggle with finances, worry about the future, and doubt each other in times of stress. K. isn’t shy in describing John’s sexual appetite for Hessa, and their rather modern sexual practices. She also suggests that John had an eye for the ladies, even after his marriage to Hessa, which causes problems in their relationship. Since there’s no evidence that the historical John the Baptist was married at all, the story K. tells is one of her own imagining. But by humanizing John, she gives us insight into the very real difficulties of assuming a leadership role in difficult times. John resists the role of profit that was placed on him in childhood, and his retreat to the wilderness is in many ways an attempt to separate himself from the demands he wishes to escape. When his visions finally convince him to accept his role as profit, his marriage to Hessa becomes strained. But it’s her strength and dedication that enables him to fulfill his role and influence history.
There is but one brief mention of Jesus in this novel, as one of the many men John baptizes in the River Jordan. Hessa says that “John was very impressed with him,” but that’s all. This isn’t a particularly religious novel, and the story has little to do with either the Jewish or Christian faith. Instead, it’s one woman’s story of love and honor for a man destined to do great things. John’s message is a simple one: “Anyone can be forgiven. All good souls are free.” He insists that he is not the Messiah, but that “another will come” (there is no suggestion here that he is referring to Jesus), and he advises his followers to “do justice, love kindness, walk humbly.” It’s a message all can embrace, regardless of religious belief.
I enjoyed THE WIFE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST – Hessa’s story is engaging, honest, and totally believable. I could imagine her in the wilderness with John, grinding wheat for their bread, gathering firewood, and making love to him in the waters of the River Jordan. Theirs is a lovely and spiritual story. I highly recommend this novel.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this book for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
July 7, 2014
The Wife of John The Baptist is not likely to be what readers expect, and for the most part, that is a good thing. I found myself disappointed by a couple of things, but that should not stop readers from giving this novel a try.
The story is told through Hessa, the daughter of a Greek merchant and a young woman with an extraordinary gift. When she touches something, she can tell about more than its authenticity and quality. She knows its history. When she touches the hands of others, she knows if they are honest or if something is troubling them. Her ability is useful to her father, who dotes on her, and encourages her with tales of his adventures.
When a mysterious young traveler named John appears in town, Hessa's life changes dramatically. Before long, he has won her heart and she marries him against her father's wishes. There is passionate honeymoon, and then she joins John in his wandering.
They seek solitude, partly so John can be alone with God, but it seems mostly so John can avoid people who are all too ready to make him the prophet his father said he would be. But after they lose their first child, John decides to take on disciples and live in community so that Hessa will have a proper midwife for her next pregnancies.
Eventually, John succumbs to the pressure of becoming a prophet. The problem is that several factions are seeking him as a leader against the hated Romans, and John does not believe a revolution can come by armed force. He does discover some sort of power in baptism and begins to perform them in the Jordan. It is then that John's pronouncement against Herod's marriage to his brother's wife gets him into trouble.
Though there is a surprising lack of sensory details, this is still a very interesting story, not just about John and his bride, but about the people and politics of this time. I had trouble putting it down. The characters are well-drawn and authentic. And John and Hessa's love for each is not just the passionate attraction of two young people, but romance that builds rather than wanes as they get older. For me, this made the story richer and more satisfying.
While a novelist does not have any obligation to stick to every particular of history, especially a history many prefer to believe, I am not thrilled with some of the deviations and omissions from John's story. John's purpose to announce the arrival of the Messiah is completely ignored, and Jesus is relegated to a single, brief sentence, where John is said to have been "very impressed with him." Readers will also find differences between K.Ford K.'s portrait and the Biblical account. Most of these are minor, but I suspect those looking for something to solidify their beliefs will be disconcerted.
I was also disappointed with the ending, not because it isn't "happy," but because it seems to all too mystical where little hint of such is provided by the story. The reincarnation angle seems to give the novel a more Hollywood ending than the reader would expect.
These problems do not detract completely from the story itself, but I must confess most of them troubled me. However, this novel is gratifying, and its challenges should not put off good readers.
The story is told through Hessa, the daughter of a Greek merchant and a young woman with an extraordinary gift. When she touches something, she can tell about more than its authenticity and quality. She knows its history. When she touches the hands of others, she knows if they are honest or if something is troubling them. Her ability is useful to her father, who dotes on her, and encourages her with tales of his adventures.
When a mysterious young traveler named John appears in town, Hessa's life changes dramatically. Before long, he has won her heart and she marries him against her father's wishes. There is passionate honeymoon, and then she joins John in his wandering.
They seek solitude, partly so John can be alone with God, but it seems mostly so John can avoid people who are all too ready to make him the prophet his father said he would be. But after they lose their first child, John decides to take on disciples and live in community so that Hessa will have a proper midwife for her next pregnancies.
Eventually, John succumbs to the pressure of becoming a prophet. The problem is that several factions are seeking him as a leader against the hated Romans, and John does not believe a revolution can come by armed force. He does discover some sort of power in baptism and begins to perform them in the Jordan. It is then that John's pronouncement against Herod's marriage to his brother's wife gets him into trouble.
Though there is a surprising lack of sensory details, this is still a very interesting story, not just about John and his bride, but about the people and politics of this time. I had trouble putting it down. The characters are well-drawn and authentic. And John and Hessa's love for each is not just the passionate attraction of two young people, but romance that builds rather than wanes as they get older. For me, this made the story richer and more satisfying.
While a novelist does not have any obligation to stick to every particular of history, especially a history many prefer to believe, I am not thrilled with some of the deviations and omissions from John's story. John's purpose to announce the arrival of the Messiah is completely ignored, and Jesus is relegated to a single, brief sentence, where John is said to have been "very impressed with him." Readers will also find differences between K.Ford K.'s portrait and the Biblical account. Most of these are minor, but I suspect those looking for something to solidify their beliefs will be disconcerted.
I was also disappointed with the ending, not because it isn't "happy," but because it seems to all too mystical where little hint of such is provided by the story. The reincarnation angle seems to give the novel a more Hollywood ending than the reader would expect.
These problems do not detract completely from the story itself, but I must confess most of them troubled me. However, this novel is gratifying, and its challenges should not put off good readers.
April 28, 2014
I didn't become a fan of historical fiction until just recently. Reading a book a great as this one makes me sad that I didn't take up reading them earlier.
I wasn't very familiar with the bible version of John the Baptist so I didn't have any idea how the story would play out. I also went into the book knowing that it was 100% fiction so I didn't have any objections as to how the story was told.
What I really enjoyed the most about The Wife of John the Baptist is that John's wife, Hessa, has the ability to "read" the feelings of anyone she touches and the history of any item she touches. It really gives insight into Hessa's motivation throughout the book.
Reading this book encouraged me to read more about John the Baptist and even after learning a little more about his life, I still loved that I had a chance to read this one.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction and romance.
I wasn't very familiar with the bible version of John the Baptist so I didn't have any idea how the story would play out. I also went into the book knowing that it was 100% fiction so I didn't have any objections as to how the story was told.
What I really enjoyed the most about The Wife of John the Baptist is that John's wife, Hessa, has the ability to "read" the feelings of anyone she touches and the history of any item she touches. It really gives insight into Hessa's motivation throughout the book.
Reading this book encouraged me to read more about John the Baptist and even after learning a little more about his life, I still loved that I had a chance to read this one.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction and romance.
October 12, 2014
I was fortunate enough to win this book from Goodreads Giveaway.
This was a very interesting and compelling story about the life of John the Baptist, as told by his wife, Hessa. Hessa is not mentioned in the Bible, but she gives us a very detailed, personal, first-hand idea of what life may have been like with this man. The story was well told and captivating with tons of detail. I am a huge historical fiction fan and this book did not disappoint!
Well done, K. Ford K.!
This was a very interesting and compelling story about the life of John the Baptist, as told by his wife, Hessa. Hessa is not mentioned in the Bible, but she gives us a very detailed, personal, first-hand idea of what life may have been like with this man. The story was well told and captivating with tons of detail. I am a huge historical fiction fan and this book did not disappoint!
Well done, K. Ford K.!
May 25, 2014
An imaginative look at the known historical and religious figure of John the Baptist and the woman who loved him. While at its roots it has some historical basis, for the most part it was a fictional piece and I liked how it could examine a religious character without forcing a particular brand of religious dogma. A worthwile read for those who appreciate a blend of history and fiction.
November 14, 2014
Beautifully told. A subject that receives no discussion, John the Baptist ever having a wife let alone what she may have been like. K. Ford K. describes a very real and vital woman who loved her husband beyond anything and the life they may have had together in a manner that is completely in tune with the that era of human history. You will come to love Hessa and pull for her throughout the book.
August 20, 2014
Incredible read. A sensual look into what the life of John the Baptists wife may have been like. Shows a very human side of this great man and the woman who stood by him through it all. A very smoldering love story.
May 8, 2014
This book is a lovely interpretation of the story of John the Baptist from the viewpoint of his wife--someone who isn't mentioned in the Biblical account. My only qualm was the afterword--I really didn't think positioning the story in terms of reincarnation added to the story.
April 7, 2014
A unique take on the story - I enjoyed it very much.
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