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The Silver Chalice
Part Two Of Two Parts
Based on legends of the years following Christ's crucifixion, this novel describes the life of Basil, the artisan who fashioned the silver chalice that held the sacred cup from which Christ drank at the Last Supper.
503 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1952
230 people are currently reading
3661 people want to read
About the author
Thomas B. Costain
128 books186 followersCostain was born in Brantford, Ontario to John Herbert Costain and Mary Schultz. He attended high school there at the Brantford Collegiate Institute. Before graduating from high school he had written four novels, one of which was a 70,000 word romance about Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange. These early novels were rejected by publishers.
His first writing success came in 1902 when the Brantford Courier accepted a mystery story from him, and he became a reporter there (for five dollars a week). He was an editor at the Guelph Daily Mercury between 1908 and 1910. He married Ida Randolph Spragge (1888–1975) in York, Ontario on January 12, 1910. The couple had two children, Molly (Mrs. Howard Haycraft) and Dora (Mrs. Henry Darlington Steinmetz). Also in 1910, Costain joined the Maclean Publishing Group where he edited three trade journals. Beginning in 1914, he was a staff writer for and, from 1917, editor of Toronto-based Maclean's magazine. His success there brought him to the attention of The Saturday Evening Post in New York City where he was fiction editor for fourteen years.
In 1920 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He also worked for Doubleday Books as an editor 1939-1946. He was the head of 20th Century Fox’s bureau of literary development (story department) from 1934 to 1942.
In 1940, he wrote four short novels but was “enough of an editor not to send them out”. He next planned to write six books in a series he called “The Stepchildren of History”. He would write about six interesting but unknown historical figures. For his first, he wrote about the seventeenth-century pirate John Ward aka Jack Ward. In 1942, he realized his longtime dream when this first novel For My Great Folly was published, and it became a bestseller with over 132,000 copies sold. The New York Times reviewer stated at the end of the review "there will be no romantic-adventure lover left unsatisfied." In January 1946 he "retired" to spend the rest of his life writing, at a rate of about 3,000 words a day.
Raised as a Baptist, he was reported in the 1953 Current Biography to be an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was described as a handsome, tall, broad-shouldered man with a pink and white complexion, clear blue eyes, and a slight Canadian accent. He was white-haired by the time he began to write novels. He loved animals and could not even kill a bug (but he also loved bridge, and he did not extend the same policy to his partners). He also loved movies and the theatre (he met his future wife when she was performing Ruth in the The Pirates of Penzance).
Costain's work is a mixture of commercial history (such as The White and The Gold, a history of New France to around 1720) and fiction that relies heavily on historic events (one review stated it was hard to tell where history leaves off and apocrypha begins). His most popular novel was The Black Rose (1945), centred in the time and actions of Bayan of the Baarin also known as Bayan of the Hundred Eyes. Costain noted in his foreword that he initially intended the book to be about Bayan and Edward I, but became caught up in the legend of Thomas a Becket's parents: an English knight married to an Eastern girl. The book was a selection of the Literary Guild with a first printing of 650,000 copies and sold over two million copies in its first year.
His research led him to believe that Richard III was a great monarch tarred by conspiracies, after his death, with the murder of the princes in the tower. Costain supported his theories with documentation, suggesting that the real murderer was Henry VII.
Costain died in 1965 at his New York City home of a heart attack at the age of 80. He is buried in the Farringdon Independent Church Cemetery in Brantford.
His first writing success came in 1902 when the Brantford Courier accepted a mystery story from him, and he became a reporter there (for five dollars a week). He was an editor at the Guelph Daily Mercury between 1908 and 1910. He married Ida Randolph Spragge (1888–1975) in York, Ontario on January 12, 1910. The couple had two children, Molly (Mrs. Howard Haycraft) and Dora (Mrs. Henry Darlington Steinmetz). Also in 1910, Costain joined the Maclean Publishing Group where he edited three trade journals. Beginning in 1914, he was a staff writer for and, from 1917, editor of Toronto-based Maclean's magazine. His success there brought him to the attention of The Saturday Evening Post in New York City where he was fiction editor for fourteen years.
In 1920 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He also worked for Doubleday Books as an editor 1939-1946. He was the head of 20th Century Fox’s bureau of literary development (story department) from 1934 to 1942.
In 1940, he wrote four short novels but was “enough of an editor not to send them out”. He next planned to write six books in a series he called “The Stepchildren of History”. He would write about six interesting but unknown historical figures. For his first, he wrote about the seventeenth-century pirate John Ward aka Jack Ward. In 1942, he realized his longtime dream when this first novel For My Great Folly was published, and it became a bestseller with over 132,000 copies sold. The New York Times reviewer stated at the end of the review "there will be no romantic-adventure lover left unsatisfied." In January 1946 he "retired" to spend the rest of his life writing, at a rate of about 3,000 words a day.
Raised as a Baptist, he was reported in the 1953 Current Biography to be an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was described as a handsome, tall, broad-shouldered man with a pink and white complexion, clear blue eyes, and a slight Canadian accent. He was white-haired by the time he began to write novels. He loved animals and could not even kill a bug (but he also loved bridge, and he did not extend the same policy to his partners). He also loved movies and the theatre (he met his future wife when she was performing Ruth in the The Pirates of Penzance).
Costain's work is a mixture of commercial history (such as The White and The Gold, a history of New France to around 1720) and fiction that relies heavily on historic events (one review stated it was hard to tell where history leaves off and apocrypha begins). His most popular novel was The Black Rose (1945), centred in the time and actions of Bayan of the Baarin also known as Bayan of the Hundred Eyes. Costain noted in his foreword that he initially intended the book to be about Bayan and Edward I, but became caught up in the legend of Thomas a Becket's parents: an English knight married to an Eastern girl. The book was a selection of the Literary Guild with a first printing of 650,000 copies and sold over two million copies in its first year.
His research led him to believe that Richard III was a great monarch tarred by conspiracies, after his death, with the murder of the princes in the tower. Costain supported his theories with documentation, suggesting that the real murderer was Henry VII.
Costain died in 1965 at his New York City home of a heart attack at the age of 80. He is buried in the Farringdon Independent Church Cemetery in Brantford.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
June 17, 2008
I had never heard of this book until I went to a homeschool bookstore and saw it on the shelves. The back said something about it being a classic, and that immediately caught my attention.
The entire book reminded me of Ben-Hur, just at a later time period. It is set quite a few years after the death of Jesus on the cross, and tells the story of a young man named Basil. He, just like Ben-Hur, is sold as a slave and looses his house, lands, and properties. One thing that Basil does have is an amazing talent to sculpt with his hands. This talent is what gets Basil to the places he goes.
Notable characters include, Nero, many of the Lord's apostles, and Joseph of Arimathia.
This was a very good book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loved Ben-Hur.
The entire book reminded me of Ben-Hur, just at a later time period. It is set quite a few years after the death of Jesus on the cross, and tells the story of a young man named Basil. He, just like Ben-Hur, is sold as a slave and looses his house, lands, and properties. One thing that Basil does have is an amazing talent to sculpt with his hands. This talent is what gets Basil to the places he goes.
Notable characters include, Nero, many of the Lord's apostles, and Joseph of Arimathia.
This was a very good book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loved Ben-Hur.
February 19, 2013
This is my favorite of Thomas Costain's novels. If you like both historical fiction and Christian fiction, you will find this story about the cup used at the Last Supper to be a gem. There's lots of excitement, romance, religion, and of course, history.
October 28, 2022
First, I want to describe how this book came into my hands. I was browsing at a secondhand shop, skimmed its blurb and thought, 'Hmm, this looks like one of those Biblical epics. Meh, well, why not?' It joined my stash of old books to be looked at down the track, some of which never see the light of day for ages. A few weeks later, I stumbled across a list of the bestselling books for each year from the 1930s to the early 2020s. And this was on it! It's America's bestselling fiction title of 1952, and Australia probably followed suit. Since I'm keen to tick some off, this serendipitous discovery seemed a perfect starting place. I went in with no expectations.
And it blew me away!
So we're plunged instantly into New Testament times. Some of the events that take place in the Bible's Book of Acts are happening offstage simultaneously. Our hero is a talented young artisan named Basil, who was adopted by a wealthy businessman to be his son and heir. But Basil is majorly screwed over by his wicked step-uncle, who sells him as a slave to an exploitative silversmith. From there, he's purchased by Luke the Physician (yep, that Luke) who brings him to meet Joseph of Arimathea. The elderly church heroes have a daunting commission for our boy. They possess the modest cup used by Jesus and his apostles in the Upper Room at the Last Supper, and want a special silver chalice created to hold it, which must feature the faces of Jesus's most beloved followers. They've chosen Basil, who is about 19 years old at this stage, to be the artist.
His task involves travelling to key places where each model happens to live, often in exile, to record their likenesses so he can start his job. Needless to say, this takes far more than a snap from a phone camera, or a sketch on a drawing pad. Basil must form accurate little wax models, sometimes surreptitiously, for his records. And the scope of the action includes Antioch, his starting point, Jerusalem, Ephesus and Rome. It's extremely perilous, since several passionate groups want to stamp out his effort, including High Jewish officials, Zealots and the Roman conquerors.
I loved Basil. He's exactly the sort of protagonist it's fun to stand behind and barrack for. Essentially, he's just a kid with an amazing talent that proves to be a mixed blessing, turning him into something of a puppet. Basil's social status and time period make it easy for several different people to control his destiny, each with their own agendas in mind. Basil is in no position to do anything about it. When people who pull strings say, 'Jump,' he has to say, 'How high?' rather than, 'Get lost!' as he'd often prefer. The cycle starts when he's only ten years old, and Ignatius the wealthy olive oil magnate arranges with Basil's biological father, Theron, to adopt him. The boy himself gets no say in the matter. But one of my favourite examples occurs when Basil is summoned before the Emperor, Nero. 'Caesar does not invite. He commands!'
There is a fantastic cast of supporting characters. I love the role Luke the gospel writer plays in this story. Paul comes across as bold and bossy as he probably was; the encounter with John was arduous but mind-blowing, and I won't reveal too much about Peter.
The sneaky villain, Simon the Sorcerer plays a huge role, as he attempts to undermine the miracles of Jesus with his chicanery, and the public lap it up. And Basil's intriguing love triangle adds a dash of romance. Two young women are crazy about the young artist. Will his heart swing toward Deborra, the granddaughter of Joseph, or Helena, a former cheeky slave of his stepfather's?
One of the questions driving the plot concerns Basil's ultimate success. He worries that if his ability to make the chalice will depend on the purity of his own state of mind, it's doomed, for lots has happened to make him bitter and vengeful in his short life. I love it that Bible stories are always drawn from by characters as real and living historical precedents to aid decision making, which is so refreshing in our era, when many people sweep them aside as legends or fairy tales.
Overall, I'm impressed that in the mid-twentieth century, a Christian fiction (for what else could you call this?) could make it as the bestselling book on secular charts. Times have certainly changed. And the bestselling non-fiction for the same year was probably unsurprisingly, The Revised Standard edition of the Bible. And now I'm definitely interested to find out more about Costain's other historical fiction. Although he had a huge following in his heyday, this is the first time I'd ever heard of him.
And it blew me away!
So we're plunged instantly into New Testament times. Some of the events that take place in the Bible's Book of Acts are happening offstage simultaneously. Our hero is a talented young artisan named Basil, who was adopted by a wealthy businessman to be his son and heir. But Basil is majorly screwed over by his wicked step-uncle, who sells him as a slave to an exploitative silversmith. From there, he's purchased by Luke the Physician (yep, that Luke) who brings him to meet Joseph of Arimathea. The elderly church heroes have a daunting commission for our boy. They possess the modest cup used by Jesus and his apostles in the Upper Room at the Last Supper, and want a special silver chalice created to hold it, which must feature the faces of Jesus's most beloved followers. They've chosen Basil, who is about 19 years old at this stage, to be the artist.
His task involves travelling to key places where each model happens to live, often in exile, to record their likenesses so he can start his job. Needless to say, this takes far more than a snap from a phone camera, or a sketch on a drawing pad. Basil must form accurate little wax models, sometimes surreptitiously, for his records. And the scope of the action includes Antioch, his starting point, Jerusalem, Ephesus and Rome. It's extremely perilous, since several passionate groups want to stamp out his effort, including High Jewish officials, Zealots and the Roman conquerors.
I loved Basil. He's exactly the sort of protagonist it's fun to stand behind and barrack for. Essentially, he's just a kid with an amazing talent that proves to be a mixed blessing, turning him into something of a puppet. Basil's social status and time period make it easy for several different people to control his destiny, each with their own agendas in mind. Basil is in no position to do anything about it. When people who pull strings say, 'Jump,' he has to say, 'How high?' rather than, 'Get lost!' as he'd often prefer. The cycle starts when he's only ten years old, and Ignatius the wealthy olive oil magnate arranges with Basil's biological father, Theron, to adopt him. The boy himself gets no say in the matter. But one of my favourite examples occurs when Basil is summoned before the Emperor, Nero. 'Caesar does not invite. He commands!'
There is a fantastic cast of supporting characters. I love the role Luke the gospel writer plays in this story. Paul comes across as bold and bossy as he probably was; the encounter with John was arduous but mind-blowing, and I won't reveal too much about Peter.
The sneaky villain, Simon the Sorcerer plays a huge role, as he attempts to undermine the miracles of Jesus with his chicanery, and the public lap it up. And Basil's intriguing love triangle adds a dash of romance. Two young women are crazy about the young artist. Will his heart swing toward Deborra, the granddaughter of Joseph, or Helena, a former cheeky slave of his stepfather's?
One of the questions driving the plot concerns Basil's ultimate success. He worries that if his ability to make the chalice will depend on the purity of his own state of mind, it's doomed, for lots has happened to make him bitter and vengeful in his short life. I love it that Bible stories are always drawn from by characters as real and living historical precedents to aid decision making, which is so refreshing in our era, when many people sweep them aside as legends or fairy tales.
Overall, I'm impressed that in the mid-twentieth century, a Christian fiction (for what else could you call this?) could make it as the bestselling book on secular charts. Times have certainly changed. And the bestselling non-fiction for the same year was probably unsurprisingly, The Revised Standard edition of the Bible. And now I'm definitely interested to find out more about Costain's other historical fiction. Although he had a huge following in his heyday, this is the first time I'd ever heard of him.
November 24, 2015
A lovely old book which tells the fictional story of what became of the cup used by Jesus at the last supper. A young boy named Basil is sold into slavery after the death of his rich adoptive father and he is apprenticed to a silversmith. Basil has a great gift for art which he is not allowed to use whilst working for the silversmith, having to churn out basic items ordered by customers, but as he learns the trade and how to handle silver his gift becomes known. In a round about way Joseph of Arimathea who famously gave his own tomb for Jesus to be buried in hears of his great talent and sends Luke the Apostle to find him and bring him to his home. Joseph has supported the Christians with his great wealth for the last thirty years or so since Jesus died, he is now a very old man and is cared for by is granddaughter Deborra, he does however have one last important task to accomplish before his death which he knows is not far off. He has in his possession the Holy Cup of the last supper, it is a very plain and even slightly dented cup, and he wants it to be contained in a beautiful silver mount with the images of the most important Apostles and Disciples depicted around it. Basil is chosen for the honour of creating this beautiful object and he has a limited time to make likenesses of the surviving few, Peter now old and living under a different name until such time as he was needed to resume his great work, Luke who was so kind to Basil, Paul still the fiery preacher unafraid for his own safety, and of course Joseph of Arimathea but the hardest of all was going to be Jesus. Could a likeness of Christ be achieved just from the descriptions of those who had know him while he was alive?
This is the story of a long journey both literally and mentally for Basil in his quest to capture the likenesses required in time and to create the masterpiece fit to hold the Holy Chalice.
This is the story of a long journey both literally and mentally for Basil in his quest to capture the likenesses required in time and to create the masterpiece fit to hold the Holy Chalice.
September 23, 2015
This is a great HF first published in 1952 and set in the first century chronicling the rise and spread of the Christian faith. In order to tell a more authentic story, Costain uses real characters such as Joseph of Arimithea, Luke, Peter and other Apostles as well as Nero.
Basil, the main character, is legally adopted into a wealthy family but when the father dies, his position is usurped by his uncle and he is sold into slavery. Luke finds him as he is a prodigy sculptor and buys him out of slavery giving him status once again as a free man. Luke had been searchig on behalf of Joseph of Arimithea who old and feeble as he is, is intent on securing the best and most talented artisan to design a chalice which will be made to fit the cup used by Jesus at The Last Supper". Joseph has safeguarded the cup over the years as the Zealots are intent on destroying any remnants of Jesus and eradicating the entire Christian faith. Basil goes through many trials and tribulations on his journey both to restore his good name and to find those central to the rise of Christianity in order to mold them and include their image for "the Silver Chalice".
Really enjoyed the read. The only thing keeping it from a five star read was at times (in very insignificant places) you had to suspend belief in order to go with the story.
Basil, the main character, is legally adopted into a wealthy family but when the father dies, his position is usurped by his uncle and he is sold into slavery. Luke finds him as he is a prodigy sculptor and buys him out of slavery giving him status once again as a free man. Luke had been searchig on behalf of Joseph of Arimithea who old and feeble as he is, is intent on securing the best and most talented artisan to design a chalice which will be made to fit the cup used by Jesus at The Last Supper". Joseph has safeguarded the cup over the years as the Zealots are intent on destroying any remnants of Jesus and eradicating the entire Christian faith. Basil goes through many trials and tribulations on his journey both to restore his good name and to find those central to the rise of Christianity in order to mold them and include their image for "the Silver Chalice".
Really enjoyed the read. The only thing keeping it from a five star read was at times (in very insignificant places) you had to suspend belief in order to go with the story.
May 3, 2012
Despite a long and valiant battle to at least reach the middle, I've decided it is no longer worth my time to bother with this book. I don't care about any of the characters. I don't care what's going on. I just don't care. It's time to move on and tackle a more entertaining story.
April 5, 2022
Came across this book in a family library, and what a delightful and timely-read! Right before the holidays! I really enjoyed reading about the Apostles of Christ, especially how Luke was depicted, and the way the time-period was so brought to life. Makes it so much easier to understand, visualize and remember.
Especially, I was struck by how Christian philosophies differed from those around them, as we get to read of Basil's conversion. How her realizes that "turning the other cheek" (for a second blow) and removing (most all) anger in your heart (replaced by meekness and love) made him feel at peace. And ultimately, allowed him to "see" the face of Christ so w could complete his artistic commission.
This book can be a little detailed. But it was thought-provoking and well-written, and I think would make a fun read-aloud for a family before Christmastime (though you may need to start well in advance and edit details out). To see a young slave become such an honorable man, making choices, facing temptations, and coming out aware of what matters most in life, was really satisfying.
(Also prompted me to do some of my own study of the distinctions between religions in the Middle East. Interesting that Christ was not accepted among his own (Jews) and that eventually the spread of Christianity went northward to the Roman and European empire, (Catholicism) then splitting with Martin Luther and Protestantism. Would actually like to find another good historical fiction novel that follows this growth).
Especially, I was struck by how Christian philosophies differed from those around them, as we get to read of Basil's conversion. How her realizes that "turning the other cheek" (for a second blow) and removing (most all) anger in your heart (replaced by meekness and love) made him feel at peace. And ultimately, allowed him to "see" the face of Christ so w could complete his artistic commission.
This book can be a little detailed. But it was thought-provoking and well-written, and I think would make a fun read-aloud for a family before Christmastime (though you may need to start well in advance and edit details out). To see a young slave become such an honorable man, making choices, facing temptations, and coming out aware of what matters most in life, was really satisfying.
(Also prompted me to do some of my own study of the distinctions between religions in the Middle East. Interesting that Christ was not accepted among his own (Jews) and that eventually the spread of Christianity went northward to the Roman and European empire, (Catholicism) then splitting with Martin Luther and Protestantism. Would actually like to find another good historical fiction novel that follows this growth).
April 20, 2015
Basil, the son of a poor seller of pens and ink is adopted by a rich merchant in Antioch. The young man is a gifted sculptor and silversmith. Upon the merchant's death, his evil uncle steals his patrimony and sells him into slavery. The book follows his meeting early Christians and at the behest of Joseph of Arimathea [sp.?] he fashions a silver frame for the cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper. Basil travels from Antioch to Ephesus then Rome to sculpt the faces of the apostles, which, in silver, will adorn the chalice. Basil also tries to regain his inheritance and his citizenship.
A classic, still a good story and worthwhile reading, the novel is written in an old-fashioned manner and the passing of years have not been kind to it. Style has so changed. It was packed with tiny details, which while adding to the vividness of the narration, sometimes slowed down the action. There were anachronisms galore. I read it years ago in high school when it came out, and loved it then.
A classic, still a good story and worthwhile reading, the novel is written in an old-fashioned manner and the passing of years have not been kind to it. Style has so changed. It was packed with tiny details, which while adding to the vividness of the narration, sometimes slowed down the action. There were anachronisms galore. I read it years ago in high school when it came out, and loved it then.
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September 27, 2024I got this for $1 at an estate sale in Tennessee. It was unexpectedly significant.
August 24, 2021
Read the book & then watched the movie (Paul Newman's first movie role). I liked the book better.
October 8, 2022
I don't mind a long book if there is a reason that it is long. This book does not have a reason to be over 800 pages long. The first 100 pages could have been summarized in a paragraph of two. The author needed a good editor to trim some pages.
The story wasn't bad but I did not enjoy the characters. Basil, the main character could have had terrific growth, and I guess there was some, but it was not conveyed well. There were too many side characters who added nothing to the plot.
As this is Christian fiction I will add these thoughts. The dealings with the chalice were borderline idolatry. Some of the events were more mystic than Christian, and I am not counting the dealing with Simon the Magician. I felt the addition of Peter, John, Paul, and Luke were too much. Maybe one, but all of them? Really? The idea that they would have their likeness made into an image seemed far fetched for a first century Christian of Jewish decent.
Over all, I would not recommend this and will not be reading other works by this author.
The story wasn't bad but I did not enjoy the characters. Basil, the main character could have had terrific growth, and I guess there was some, but it was not conveyed well. There were too many side characters who added nothing to the plot.
As this is Christian fiction I will add these thoughts. The dealings with the chalice were borderline idolatry. Some of the events were more mystic than Christian, and I am not counting the dealing with Simon the Magician. I felt the addition of Peter, John, Paul, and Luke were too much. Maybe one, but all of them? Really? The idea that they would have their likeness made into an image seemed far fetched for a first century Christian of Jewish decent.
Over all, I would not recommend this and will not be reading other works by this author.
September 6, 2022
1.5 stars
The story was too long for me, and the characters' personalities weren't consistent or well-developed, which is extra frustrating in a book where there was plenty of time to accomplish that!
This book is "Christian," but there were several unbiblical ideas presented here: Relics are lifted above just about everything in importance, violence (even to the point of murder) is asserted as permissible to protect relics, wealth is sought after, Jesus is portrayed as being physically beautiful, demon possession and oppression is written off as nonexistent (but apparently purgatory exists), people pray to angels instead of God, etc.
There are also various historical inaccuracies which matter less than the above.
I wish I had invested my time in something more redemptive, and can't recommend this one.
Fun fact: The edition I'm reading has transposed numbers and says it was published in 1592 instead of 1952. 🙃
The story was too long for me, and the characters' personalities weren't consistent or well-developed, which is extra frustrating in a book where there was plenty of time to accomplish that!
This book is "Christian," but there were several unbiblical ideas presented here: Relics are lifted above just about everything in importance, violence (even to the point of murder) is asserted as permissible to protect relics, wealth is sought after, Jesus is portrayed as being physically beautiful, demon possession and oppression is written off as nonexistent (but apparently purgatory exists), people pray to angels instead of God, etc.
There are also various historical inaccuracies which matter less than the above.
I wish I had invested my time in something more redemptive, and can't recommend this one.
Fun fact: The edition I'm reading has transposed numbers and says it was published in 1592 instead of 1952. 🙃
March 6, 2024
The accents and voices the Audiobook reader attempts aren't doing any favors.
The actual book doesn't do much to overcome that road block. All the Christian characters fall into the always-do-and-say-the-right-thing box. As someone who doesn't believe in relics it felt hard to invest myself in the chalice angle - it really felt like an idol to the characters in many parts. And as the book entangles itself in so much early church history and Biblical personages, it's hard not to feel a little uncomfortable where it bends them to fit the narrative, even though it's a piece of fiction.
The actual book doesn't do much to overcome that road block. All the Christian characters fall into the always-do-and-say-the-right-thing box. As someone who doesn't believe in relics it felt hard to invest myself in the chalice angle - it really felt like an idol to the characters in many parts. And as the book entangles itself in so much early church history and Biblical personages, it's hard not to feel a little uncomfortable where it bends them to fit the narrative, even though it's a piece of fiction.
February 16, 2009
This was a wonderful book! It was written 50 years before the DaVinci Code and was also about the beginnings of Christianity. Also like the DaVinci Code it was on the best seller list for multiple years. I read both books in the same summer and it is interesting to see the changing standards of popularity in the world. I really loved this book and would recommend it to anyone.
July 15, 2012
Wow! Reading this book was a great experience. Its story line, the characters, everything makes you so indulged in them that you forget about your outside world. The narration is quite excellent. A must Read One!
January 25, 2026
The characters didn't engage me, the dialogue was strange, "the cut of your jib".
December 15, 2017
I read this once when I was about 10, one of the particularly Catholic books my stepmother apparently didn't catch when our family moved in with hers - or she would've thrown it out. I thought of it then being a sort of Christian ethic, a C.S. Lewis historical fiction, or a proselytizing Edgar Rice Burroughs about the Holy Grail in early Christendom.
It's still those things, though time hasn't been kind to it. Costain's high-and-mighty old-school language sounds more like a gimmick. It does create a tone and an air, both of which unfortunately make this book less attractive. His vernacular makes the whole story a Christian "good for you" book - Costain is someone who often forgets telling a good story in order to preach.
Basil is a poor, young, but talented sculptor who is adopted by a rich man. Through terrible machinations, Basil is sold into slavery, where he works years and years to right the wrongs done to him. For this, he travels all over the Roman Empire - this is just a few decades after Christ was crucified. On the way, he meets rich and forgiving Christians and one particularly pure and beautiful "Go Jesus" waif.
All the Christians here are tortured to one level or another by the people around them. All the Christians are above reproach, and their doubts and foibles are so, so, so much less than the flawed non-Christian people around them. It's a hard life loving Jesus, even if you're a rich Christian. Because everyone else sucks to one level or another. "We're so much better than them."
Basil is set to make a frame for the famous silver chalice, the one Jesus used at the last supper. It's been hidden for years, and now it's time to take the simple, beautiful faith-inspiring thing and gaudy it up....much like this book does throughout. (The truth is that the apostles are dying, and they should be captured in the cup's frame, along with the elusive image of Jesus, which Basil struggles to imagine...) Is Basil going to become a Christian in the process? Do you think?
There are so many elements of good, swashbuckling storytelling here. They get lost in LOOOONG details and of course that schoolmarmish preaching. It's a long, thick book, and much of the beginning actually could be miles shorter. I assume The Silver Chalice would be half the length if Costain had been less concerned with writing a story about why we all should convert, and instead told a story with complex, flawed people going on adventures.
There are also questionable theological ethics - for a supremely forgiving people, they refuse to have Judas represented on the cup... Also, there's loads of sexism, which would have registered barely a blip when Costain penned the book in the mid-1950s. Now, that sexism stings - a sort of rebuke of a faith that still hasn't yet fully accepted everyone - women, non-believers, etc. - as equals to good, male Christians in God's eyes.
It's still those things, though time hasn't been kind to it. Costain's high-and-mighty old-school language sounds more like a gimmick. It does create a tone and an air, both of which unfortunately make this book less attractive. His vernacular makes the whole story a Christian "good for you" book - Costain is someone who often forgets telling a good story in order to preach.
Basil is a poor, young, but talented sculptor who is adopted by a rich man. Through terrible machinations, Basil is sold into slavery, where he works years and years to right the wrongs done to him. For this, he travels all over the Roman Empire - this is just a few decades after Christ was crucified. On the way, he meets rich and forgiving Christians and one particularly pure and beautiful "Go Jesus" waif.
All the Christians here are tortured to one level or another by the people around them. All the Christians are above reproach, and their doubts and foibles are so, so, so much less than the flawed non-Christian people around them. It's a hard life loving Jesus, even if you're a rich Christian. Because everyone else sucks to one level or another. "We're so much better than them."
Basil is set to make a frame for the famous silver chalice, the one Jesus used at the last supper. It's been hidden for years, and now it's time to take the simple, beautiful faith-inspiring thing and gaudy it up....much like this book does throughout. (The truth is that the apostles are dying, and they should be captured in the cup's frame, along with the elusive image of Jesus, which Basil struggles to imagine...) Is Basil going to become a Christian in the process? Do you think?
There are so many elements of good, swashbuckling storytelling here. They get lost in LOOOONG details and of course that schoolmarmish preaching. It's a long, thick book, and much of the beginning actually could be miles shorter. I assume The Silver Chalice would be half the length if Costain had been less concerned with writing a story about why we all should convert, and instead told a story with complex, flawed people going on adventures.
There are also questionable theological ethics - for a supremely forgiving people, they refuse to have Judas represented on the cup... Also, there's loads of sexism, which would have registered barely a blip when Costain penned the book in the mid-1950s. Now, that sexism stings - a sort of rebuke of a faith that still hasn't yet fully accepted everyone - women, non-believers, etc. - as equals to good, male Christians in God's eyes.
February 15, 2014
Glad I had a couple of snowy days to push hard through this book. Read it as part of a challenge--this particular challenge was to read a book that was on the best-seller list on the year that you were born. The idea is to see what the world was like that you were born into.
The Silver Chalice is historical fiction about a gifted slave who was tapped to create a chalice for the cup that Christ had used at the Last Supper. So much information about the times--the apostles are aging men facing persecution, the Roman rule is tight, and slavery is a fact of life that the early church must deal with.
What did I learn? That movies and books were longer--our attention spans were longer back then.
That a book about the early days of Christianity was popular. That themes are universal.
I recommend this book if you love historical fiction and have an interest in the time period or early Christianity.
The Silver Chalice is historical fiction about a gifted slave who was tapped to create a chalice for the cup that Christ had used at the Last Supper. So much information about the times--the apostles are aging men facing persecution, the Roman rule is tight, and slavery is a fact of life that the early church must deal with.
What did I learn? That movies and books were longer--our attention spans were longer back then.
That a book about the early days of Christianity was popular. That themes are universal.
I recommend this book if you love historical fiction and have an interest in the time period or early Christianity.
April 21, 2009
This was a great book I read from my Grandmother's library as a kid. The book is about life in the times contemporaneous with the life of Jesus Christ, from the point of view of those around him, particularly Joseph of Arimathea, a rich elder of the era, who donated his own stone hewn tomb for Jesus' burial after crucified execution, that death from which Jesus arose three days hence. I enjoyed this book tremendously, and recommend it highly. In fact, this author has other titles I never got around to reading, such as "The Plantaganets" and others. He is definitely on the level of James Michener. I am not certain, but I think the Hollywood movie, "The Robe" starring Victor Mature was based on this book.
September 3, 2014
This book is now one of my favorites. It tells a terrific story of some early Christians and their struggles.
The story focuses on a young man who was deprived of his inheritance and forced to work as a slave. As a slave he learns the art of sculpting and soon becomes one of the best sculptors in the known world. He is commissioned to create a frame which will hold the cup that our Savior drank from at the last supper.
One of the reasons why I like this book is it manages to show people the Christian faith without shoving it in their face saying "You have to believe this!" It presents the faith in a way that shows people what Christianity is all about instead of telling them.
The story focuses on a young man who was deprived of his inheritance and forced to work as a slave. As a slave he learns the art of sculpting and soon becomes one of the best sculptors in the known world. He is commissioned to create a frame which will hold the cup that our Savior drank from at the last supper.
One of the reasons why I like this book is it manages to show people the Christian faith without shoving it in their face saying "You have to believe this!" It presents the faith in a way that shows people what Christianity is all about instead of telling them.
February 23, 2021
Finally finished reading it.
The Silver Chalice was a very long book. The story itself was a very interesting one, but it did feel like it dragged on a bit in some places. I think the author took a LOT of artistic liberty in some places, which was occasionally annoying, but overall, I thought is was alright.
I do not know how true to history this story is. It speaks of many real people, such as Joseph of Arimathea. But I am not well-studied in this era of history, so I can't say whether or not the historical side was accurate.
All in all, it wasn't my favorite book, but it was an intriguing read. I give it 3 stars.
The Silver Chalice was a very long book. The story itself was a very interesting one, but it did feel like it dragged on a bit in some places. I think the author took a LOT of artistic liberty in some places, which was occasionally annoying, but overall, I thought is was alright.
I do not know how true to history this story is. It speaks of many real people, such as Joseph of Arimathea. But I am not well-studied in this era of history, so I can't say whether or not the historical side was accurate.
All in all, it wasn't my favorite book, but it was an intriguing read. I give it 3 stars.
October 18, 2019
Excellent read! Thomas B. Costain delves into historical novels and adds a touch of romance along the way. This book depicts the times of which it was written about woven around the silver chalice made to hold the cup Christ used at the Last Supper. Many factions are trying to find and destroy the cup but Costain makes this interesting and at the same time an intense read. In each of his books he also adds his touch of romance. I would suggest reading it because of the fine writing and his dedication to details.
March 30, 2012
This is a wonderful book, which I freely recommend to friends and family. It is interesting in its fictionalization of the post-Resurrection depiction of Christ's apostles and followers. Of course, we may all use our imaginations to flesh out these men (and women) from scriptural reading, but it is fun to read Costain's take on these people. The plot is shifty enough to keep us caring about the main characters and their strivings to better both their temporal and spiritual selves. If you like The Robe and Quo Vadis, give this one a try!
January 11, 2020
The world of early Christianity provides the background of this story of Basil of Antioch. Starts with Basil at age 10 being adopted by the wealthiest merchant in Antioch. Basil, talented artisan, who is later sold into slavery by the manipulating brother of the merchant, is later purchased from slavery and asked to create a decorative casing for the Chalice that Jesus used at the Last Supper. Basil travels to Jerusalem, Greece, and Rome, meets the apostles, braves the perils of persecution, and finally makes a fateful choice that allows him to “see” Jesus to complete the chalice
September 3, 2013
The Silver Chalice by Thomas B. Costain. Remembered vaguely watching the movie on TV. Now that I have read the book I plan on getting the movie at the Library and viewing it again. The book reminds us of what the followers of the Christian world went through after the death of Jesus. We take our freedom for granted and don't realize how many people suffered for the freedom that we enjoy now.
Want to read
May 17, 2012This book was the best selling fiction book in 1952 and the number #2 best seller in 1953, coming in behind The Robe. I've seen the movie of that but never read the book. Both books are set in the same early Christian era.
April 30, 2014
This was very...earnestly written. At one point I felt like I'd fallen into a Christian telenovela - everyone was having inner dialogue about their feelings. And since it was written in the early '50s, everything was "white-washed"...all the women had alabaster skin and all the men had blue eyes. Also, Jesus was apparently a very attractive man, despite what the Bible says.
January 29, 2025
Once upon a time, a much younger me purchased this book from a yard sale for pocket change. It had no cover and I had no idea what it was about. I didn't even want it, I was just trying to be polite.
But when I read it, it wound up being one of my favorite works of (relatively) modern Grail/Arthurian literature.
But when I read it, it wound up being one of my favorite works of (relatively) modern Grail/Arthurian literature.
June 18, 2010
Me and my sweetie stumbled across this author while exploring a used book sale. His stuff is out of print now but what yummy reading! I love this kind of literature. You get lost in the richness of the words, descriptions, etc.
October 26, 2010
I've read this book over and over again and just recently found it in a still unpacked pile of books and read it immediately. I love historical fiction and fiction about the early Church is pretty cool.
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