From its inception, the story of Christianity needed Mary to be a meek, virtuous, selfless and heroic symbol as part of its identify, and it still does. For them, it matters intensely that he maintains a regal position his subjects look to him as King as part of their identity. Homer delivers heroic ‘types’, and the reader is not really privy to their innermost thoughts and fears. But Malouf takes us into their hearts and minds – he shows, for instance, how the burdens of kingship weigh heavily on Priam, and how his subjects – especially his surviving children – can’t reconcile the poignancy of his needs as a grieving father with his role as a dignified king. What is most striking about the difference is the way Malouf humanises the characters. This uncompromising reimagining of the story of Mary the Mother of God reminded me of David Malouf’s reimagining of Homer’s Iliad in his novella Ransom. But Mary Gordon at the NY Times, however, thought it a beautiful and daring work. Kevin from Canada was puzzled by its nomination for the Booker, Joe Pinkser at The Atlantic found it a slog. very religious people, and people not interested in religion at all.
But it’s come in for some heavy-duty criticism, and not just from the usual suspects i.e. I was completely riveted by this short novella, and read it in a single sitting.
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