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The Gifts of Man
To believers and non believers alike, the Wise Men are highly mysterious figures. Three men travel from afar in search of a newborn king. In the nativity story, they arrive after the birth of Jesus, having followed a star across the desert. But who were these men? Where did they come from? How were they connected—if in fact they were? And was a star the only reason for their famous journey, or was there more to it? This engrossing biblical adaption goes beyond the nativity story as we experience the search for the Messiah from the perspective of each of the three men, Melchior, Gaspar, Balthazar; of Alima, the woman Balthazar loves; and of Asher, a teenage shepherd. Carefully researched and beautifully written, The Gifts of Man brings the human condition to the forefront and speaks to the common struggles of the day—war, illness, the treatment of women, loss, and love—that are still prevalent in our society today. In learning why each of these characters makes this journey to Bethlehem and how it—and the baby Jesus—affected them, we better understand the nature of man, hope, and—most importantly—our faith in God and in ourselves. The newly revised edition of The Gifts of Man is now available with a Readers Guide of Questions for Discussion.
454 pages, Paperback
Published August 17, 2016
12 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
S.M. McElligott
1 book20 followersS. M. McElligott grew up on Long Island, NY where she lived in no less than eleven different towns before meeting and marrying an Irishman from Brooklyn and moving yet again to the Midwest. In the midst of it all, while her husband traveled for business, she raised four children, pursued various graduate studies and held a variety of interesting jobs. Always an avid reader, she decided to pursue a lifelong goal to write when her youngest son graduated from college. Now retired, she loves her newly adopted state of TN, where she writes, golfs, kayaks, plays bridge and stays active in her local parish. She is a member of the Catholic Writer's Guild and the Author's Guild of Tennessee.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 26, 2016
Who sits around wondering about the Three Wise Men? They appeared, witnessed a miracle, and departed, leaving behind gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Sure, they were an important part of the story of the Messiah. Not so much so one is sufficiently curious to spend endless hours (years) researching and evolving a historical fiction tale, that so captivates the imagination and expands one's appreciation of the period in which Jesus was born and lived his all too brief life on earth. In The Gifts of Man, S.M. McElligott thankfully introduces the reader to three men in a manner we may never have considered but now can never ignore. No retelling of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus will ever be the same. Brilliant writing! Admirable research!
May 31, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Excellent fictional rendering of the misty characters in the beloved tale of the Epiphany. Fine exposition of the ancient Middle East with the Roman occupation and various cultures interacting in such human ways. The spiritual journey is subtle and easily entered by the reader. The story flows easily and you care about the characters. The fleshing out of the societies and families of the well-known characters adds a wonderful backdrop to the biblical and extra-biblical tales that will stay with the reader for a very long time. Has a bibliography, study guide/book group questions, map and glossary to aid the reader while keeping the story historically viable. Am happy to recommend to interested readers.
October 13, 2016
The Gifts of Man is a well written fictionalized story of The Three Wisemen: Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar. Their journey, their families, their dreams and goals are all told with historical accuracy and rich detail. You can visualize while reading that you are there in the shipyard, riding on top of a camel, or sleeping inside the tent at an oasis. This book held my attention and I was not able to put it down. The story that unfolds tells not just of a journey over land but a journey of seeking wisdom, guidance, faith, love, and new beginnings. Out of tragedies, comes triumphs, out of challenges and hardships come strength and out of generosity comes happiness and freedom. What a gift Stephanie McElligott has to share her writing style with us. She does a wonderful job developing each character, adding unexpected twists and suspense. As each of the three men learn lessons along the way, so we, too, can learn our own lessons of loyalty, faithfulness, integrity, and grace.
January 11, 2017
I won this book on Goodreads. It was truly amazing! It is the story of the three wise men who came to honor Jesus after his birth in the stable ( or cave as it is called in the book) but it is so much more than that. It is so beautifully written that you transport back into the time period. You follow their footsteps as they trek across deserts and mountains. You feel their pain as they lay on the cold dirt floor in prisons. You feel their confusion and wonder as they move through this life following stars and angels and the will of God. You feel their love for their families and friends and especially for Jesus and God. It is a delicious and uplifting read. You must read this book!
March 12, 2017
An awesome historical account
The author has written a wonderful fictional account of the journey of the three wise men who visited Jesus after his birth. We aren't given many details about them in the Bible but being a history expert she has done the work to find out more and written a beautiful story to help us fill in the blanks. She includes many descriptions about the scenery and ancient temples, even the political figures of the era. And then (spoiler alert) ties it altogether with someone revealing Jesus' real purpose to them after his death. Thank you for this trip back in time.
The author has written a wonderful fictional account of the journey of the three wise men who visited Jesus after his birth. We aren't given many details about them in the Bible but being a history expert she has done the work to find out more and written a beautiful story to help us fill in the blanks. She includes many descriptions about the scenery and ancient temples, even the political figures of the era. And then (spoiler alert) ties it altogether with someone revealing Jesus' real purpose to them after his death. Thank you for this trip back in time.
February 10, 2017
This was a great imagining of the Magi who visited Jesus...of their lives and journey to find the newborn king. The history of the region, of the astrologers, the tribes, the customs was skillfully crafted into an amazing story. I will reread this one. I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2017
Imaginative take on who the Three Kings of biblical legend might have been and what their lives and travels to see the Messiah might have been like.
This book is in desperate need of an editor/proofreader.
This book is in desperate need of an editor/proofreader.
November 1, 2016
This book is rich in characters that grab your heart, settings with vivid details, and a plot that makes you wonder how it will all end. I loved it!
November 9, 2016
The three wise men come to life in this biblical novel. Great detail. I won it in a contest and I highly recommend it.
December 16, 2016
I received this book as a goodreads first-reads winner.
This is an excellent book. I couldn't put it down! I will read this every year during the Christmas season. Highly recommend!
This is an excellent book. I couldn't put it down! I will read this every year during the Christmas season. Highly recommend!
October 30, 2018
Every now and then, a book comes along that makes you question everything you have ever thought about something that has been so deeply ingrained into your mind that it just seems like a given. The Gifts of Man by S. M. McElligott is such a book. I dare say no reader of this book has ever given much thought about the three wise men who traveled from the east, following a star to seek the baby Jesus. Sure, they have their own Christmas carol and all, but who were they? How far did they go? How long did it take them? What kinds of challenges faced them along the way? What about their personal, private lives? What about their culture, their values and their beliefs? Did they have families? Did they suffer tragedies? Did they celebrate achievements? Did they struggle, love, hate, laugh, cry or have any number of other experiences the rest of us have? Sure they did. They were human – just like the rest of us. But I’ll wager you’ve never given any of that much (if any) thought.
McElligott takes that simple carol and the brief passages in the Bible about the three travelers from the east and explodes them into a rich tapestry depicting a believable account at the birth of the first century A.D. The story is necessarily hypothetical with regard to the personalities, but so much detail is provided about Middle Eastern culture and geography that the characters Balthazar, Gaspar and Melchior seem as plausible as characters depicted explicitly in secular and religious literature from the period.
The Christmas story is delicately and masterfully woven into the fabric of these men’s lives, right alongside their day to day experiences. All of it fits seamlessly together to bring the reader a riveting and beautiful story. Read The Gifts of Man. You will never sing “We Three Kings” again without thinking about McElligott’s three wise men.
Note to parents: There is no significant profanity in this book, but it does deal with adult situations. There’s nothing graphic or gratuitous, but there are a very few scenes depicting adult interactions between men and women that some parents might want to censor from younger readers.
McElligott takes that simple carol and the brief passages in the Bible about the three travelers from the east and explodes them into a rich tapestry depicting a believable account at the birth of the first century A.D. The story is necessarily hypothetical with regard to the personalities, but so much detail is provided about Middle Eastern culture and geography that the characters Balthazar, Gaspar and Melchior seem as plausible as characters depicted explicitly in secular and religious literature from the period.
The Christmas story is delicately and masterfully woven into the fabric of these men’s lives, right alongside their day to day experiences. All of it fits seamlessly together to bring the reader a riveting and beautiful story. Read The Gifts of Man. You will never sing “We Three Kings” again without thinking about McElligott’s three wise men.
Note to parents: There is no significant profanity in this book, but it does deal with adult situations. There’s nothing graphic or gratuitous, but there are a very few scenes depicting adult interactions between men and women that some parents might want to censor from younger readers.
December 14, 2017
THE GIFTS OF MAN by Stephanie M. McElligott…..
Anyone who has attended a Christmas church service knows something about the Three Wise Men. But do they know their names or where they came from? This book tells their story.
There is so much specific information contained in this book that I assume Mrs. McElligott did extensive research before writing anything. That alone takes this into the realm of creative non-fiction. But it’s also a good old-fashioned romantic adventure.
The best known story of the Wise Men (Melchior, Gaspar & Balthazar, by the way) is that they carried gifts to Bethlehem for the baby Jesus. Old news. This book goes far beyond that and tells the reader who these men are, how they meet and the adventure and characters they encounter on the road to Bethlehem and afterwards.
The birth of Jesus forms the background and story-worthy problem for the Wise Men and their entourage, but that would be too narrow a scope for the story of their historical exploits, which are full of political and religious intrigue, tension, conflict, loss, famous people and two tales of romance that span many miles and many years.
Well written narrative and with dialogue that isn’t biblically ponderous, but neither is it modern English—a fine concoction that transports the reader to those years before Christ and shortly thereafter.
This book is excellent; well worth a read—especially during the Christmas season. 5 stars.
Anyone who has attended a Christmas church service knows something about the Three Wise Men. But do they know their names or where they came from? This book tells their story.
There is so much specific information contained in this book that I assume Mrs. McElligott did extensive research before writing anything. That alone takes this into the realm of creative non-fiction. But it’s also a good old-fashioned romantic adventure.
The best known story of the Wise Men (Melchior, Gaspar & Balthazar, by the way) is that they carried gifts to Bethlehem for the baby Jesus. Old news. This book goes far beyond that and tells the reader who these men are, how they meet and the adventure and characters they encounter on the road to Bethlehem and afterwards.
The birth of Jesus forms the background and story-worthy problem for the Wise Men and their entourage, but that would be too narrow a scope for the story of their historical exploits, which are full of political and religious intrigue, tension, conflict, loss, famous people and two tales of romance that span many miles and many years.
Well written narrative and with dialogue that isn’t biblically ponderous, but neither is it modern English—a fine concoction that transports the reader to those years before Christ and shortly thereafter.
This book is excellent; well worth a read—especially during the Christmas season. 5 stars.
June 25, 2017
The author, a devout Catholic, loves the story of the Magi, but found little about them in the Bible. She created a back story chronicling their lives before, during and after their quest for the Messiah. Ms. McElligott did meticulous research. It is an historical novel but it moves smoothly.
I loved the book. As with any book I enjoy, I have recommended it to everyone...my friends, my neighbors, my manicurist, my salesperson, and the list goes on.
You don't have to be a believer. You just have to enjoy a great read.
I loved the book. As with any book I enjoy, I have recommended it to everyone...my friends, my neighbors, my manicurist, my salesperson, and the list goes on.
You don't have to be a believer. You just have to enjoy a great read.
October 4, 2018
The Gifts of Man gives us an intriguing look at the world of Arabia and Parthia at the time of Jesus's birth. Who were these men? What were their interests and lives like aside from the quest for the Christ child? Why would they embark on a dangerous, onerous journey?
McElligot paints a beautiful portrait of faith--even among those who didn't know about the Messiah--and love and courage. This story will sweep you up in its scope and saga.
McElligot paints a beautiful portrait of faith--even among those who didn't know about the Messiah--and love and courage. This story will sweep you up in its scope and saga.
January 20, 2021
Neat speculation of how the lives of the Three Wise Men might have looked. Very human characters. Historical depiction was based on thorough research and capped with a nice tie-in conclusion. Well worth reading.
June 27, 2017
What a enjoyable and believable story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
December 28, 2023
Loved it. I really loved reading this story about three men that we know very little about their real lives from the bible.
October 17, 2016
We must follow the star! Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar, known as the three wise men of Biblical fame, received individual messages in their dreams that added to the astrological knowledge. They came from areas of the Middle East where following Judaism was more of a liability than a blessing. The Empire of Partha and a war-torn area of what is now Yemen were places where kings vied with each other for power but were helpless against the power of King Herod, himself supported by Roman domination.
The author imagines the lives of these three men in their day-to-day existence. One finally gets the approval he needs from his King to be an ambassador to find this new “King” only after a plague decimates his city and Gaspar survives that same disease. One acquires a female traveling companion who entire family has been murdered by marauding bandits common throughout the Middle East. They find intense hate, suspicion and love during their long journey. A visit to King Herod to tell him of their great news produces an ambiguous response but the flattery that follows is the precursor to dire warnings.
So many lush and sparse descriptions follow of traveling through cities and deserts that the reader is drawn into thinking and feeling part of their journey. The climax of this journey, not surprisingly, is when they finally meet the newborn child whom they all believe is to be the Messiah. Their gifts of frankincense, myrrh and gold, while the most precious of offerings, seem minor beside their joy at seeing and holding this blessed babe. Gaspar receives an unexpected but life-saving healing from being in the presence of the long-awaited Savior by Jews throughout the world. Differences are ironed out and marriages follow. Later on after they have returned to their native land, they hear of the life of Jesus, the Messiah, from Thomas, one of the famous apostles. The three wise men, however, know that their lives were totally transformed by their journey and their brief meeting with the true gift to man.
This novel is obviously very well-researched and beautifully crafted, so much so that this reviewer was sorry when it ended. A glossary and maps are added to enhance the reader’s experience. Ms. McElligott is a very talented writer whose novel will be a gift to those who read it. Highly recommended historical and Biblical historical fiction!
The author imagines the lives of these three men in their day-to-day existence. One finally gets the approval he needs from his King to be an ambassador to find this new “King” only after a plague decimates his city and Gaspar survives that same disease. One acquires a female traveling companion who entire family has been murdered by marauding bandits common throughout the Middle East. They find intense hate, suspicion and love during their long journey. A visit to King Herod to tell him of their great news produces an ambiguous response but the flattery that follows is the precursor to dire warnings.
So many lush and sparse descriptions follow of traveling through cities and deserts that the reader is drawn into thinking and feeling part of their journey. The climax of this journey, not surprisingly, is when they finally meet the newborn child whom they all believe is to be the Messiah. Their gifts of frankincense, myrrh and gold, while the most precious of offerings, seem minor beside their joy at seeing and holding this blessed babe. Gaspar receives an unexpected but life-saving healing from being in the presence of the long-awaited Savior by Jews throughout the world. Differences are ironed out and marriages follow. Later on after they have returned to their native land, they hear of the life of Jesus, the Messiah, from Thomas, one of the famous apostles. The three wise men, however, know that their lives were totally transformed by their journey and their brief meeting with the true gift to man.
This novel is obviously very well-researched and beautifully crafted, so much so that this reviewer was sorry when it ended. A glossary and maps are added to enhance the reader’s experience. Ms. McElligott is a very talented writer whose novel will be a gift to those who read it. Highly recommended historical and Biblical historical fiction!
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October 28, 2018Reviewed at Online Book Club. I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews