Three Marys

by Paul Park

In 1996 Paul Park published THE GOSPEL OF CORAX, a highly acclaimed rendering of a theosophist legend, describing Jesus of Nazareth's journey to the Indian subcontinent and Tibet. In THREE MARYS, his new novel, Park returns to first-century Palestine to recreate with penetrating insight the historical community of Jesus, and to follow the first tangled strands of Christianity after his death. Here is Jesus's world as it very likely was, confused, conflicted, rife with messianic rumor and factional ambition; here is the brazen cruelty of Roman occupation and the domestic oppression that mirrored it, seen through the eyes of the women who knew Jesus best. This is the story not only of Christ but of the three Marys who survived him and were true to him, each in their own way. Their inner and outer narratives, sometimes tortured, sometimes rhapsodic, make up the spare but radiant tapestry of this novel. There is Mary of Magdala, visionary and wandering, perhaps Jeshua's wife; there is his mother Mary, tough, charismatic, earthy, ultimately desolated by his loss; and there is Mary of Bethany, the girl who followed Jeshua in his last days and has to bear the burden of her undying brother Lazarus for decades afterwards. Outcasts because of their sex, yet possessors between them of some fragmented sense of the true ineffable nature of Christ the man and Christ the messiah, they are presented with luminous tragic humanity and given proper voice at last. Paul Park is one of contemporary American literature's most subtle and original explorers of religious experience. As exotic in coloring and as rich in understanding as his superb science fantasy novels, Three Marys is a masterpiece of historical and spiritual reconstruction.

Genres: Fantasy

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Paul Park (born 1954) is an American science fiction author and fantasy author. He lives in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with his wife and two children. He also teaches a Reading and Writing Science Fiction course at Williams College. He has also taught several times at the Clarion West Writing Workshop.

Park appeared on the American science fiction scene in 1987 and quickly established himself as a writer of polished, if often grim, literary science fiction. His first work was the Starbridge Chronicles trilogy, set on a world with generations-long seasons much like Brian Aldiss' Helliconia trilogy. His critically acclaimed novels have since dealt with colonialism on alien worlds (Coelestis), Biblical (Three Marys) and theosophical (The Gospel of Corax) legends, a parallel world where magic works (A Princess of Roumania and its sequels, The Tourmaline, The White Tyger and The Hidden World), and other topics. He has published short stories in Omni Magazine, Interzone and other magazines.

Reviews

[William Gerke · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this "sister" book to his Gospel of Corax, Paul Park again revisits his version of the historical Jesus. Through the perspective of three Mary's (Mary Magdalene, Mary of Mary/Martha, and Mary the Mother of God), Park tells the story of the Passion and the early days of the Apostles. We see the actors, Jeshua included, as flawed human beings who struggle in response to being swept up in events larger than themselves. Jeshua is a radical rabbi, caring for the poor, reviling the oppressors (whether Roman or Jewish), and sharing healing wisdom. He is caught up with a group of bandits, thieves, and rebels who follow him for political reasons. His death, their failings, and the explosive political situation in Jerusalem at the time become catalysts for the words and deeds that eventually become the Gospels.

Park's trademark realism works well here. The actions, words, and worlds of his characters seem deeply grounded, so that when Jeshua struggles to convince his followers to seek peaceful alternatives, one can see how the distortions of memory, time, and hope can turn those words into familiar parables.

As Park admits, the audience for this book is very limited: those who know the Gospel stories well and yet are willing to see an alternate version of them. But if one approaches it with an open mind, a willingness to see that a different factual truth for historical events does not undermine--and can even enhance--the spiritual Truth of the Gospels, one can see a very powerful personal vision at work here. In many ways, Three Marys has a deeper emotional and spiritual core than Gospel of Corax.

[Della · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really great read for those of you that are interested in reading bible stories as fiction or literature. the stories within Three Marys are incredibly intriguing, not only because they represent three different perspectives of Jesus from the women that were closest to him prior to his death, but the stories are written using a language style that conveys the emotion and personality of each Mary. the stories left me wondering about the story of Jesus, and how little we actually know about the real goings-on in his life and the people around him, or any person in history, for that matter. this work of fiction might have been even more enjoyable for me had i been more familiar with bible stories in general. i look forward ot reading Paul Park's other novels.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating and haunting book about three women whose lives were touched by Jesus Christ, now deceased and as yet, unrisen. His mother, his former lover, and the sister of Lazarus, comprise the three main characters of the book- all named Mary. Sort of a feminist revisiting of THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, the book is poetically written and darkly beautiful, if perhaps just a touch to reliant on traditional female mystique roles. It comes off as a smarter, better, Biblical "Mists of Avalon." Still, a very interesting read, especially if you're interested in the Bible, women's roles in first century Palestine, and revisionist mythology.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books tells the story of the crucifixion and its effects on Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary of Magdalen, and Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Rather than following the Biblical portrayals, Park reimagines each character in a fascinating way.