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The Robe
A Roman soldier, Marcellus, wins Christ's robe as a gambling prize. He then sets forth on a quest to find the truth about the Nazarene's robe-a quest that reaches to the very roots and heart of Christianity and is set against the vividly limned background of ancient Rome. Here is a timeless story of adventure, faith, and romance, a tale of spiritual longing and ultimate redemption.
528 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1942
About the author
Lloyd C. Douglas
105 books572 followersLloyd C. Douglas was a noteworthy American minister and author. He spent part of his boyhood in Monroeville, Indiana, Wilmot, Indiana and Florence, Kentucky, where his father, Alexander Jackson Douglas, was pastor of the Hopeful Lutheran Church. He died in Los Angeles, California.
Douglas was one of the most popular American authors of his time, although he didn't write his first novel until he was 50.
His written works were of a moral, didactic, and distinctly religious tone. His first novel, Magnificent Obsession, was an immediate and sensational success. Critics held that his type of fiction was in the tradition of the great religious writings of an earlier generation, such as, Ben-Hur and Quo Vadis.
Douglas is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Douglas was one of the most popular American authors of his time, although he didn't write his first novel until he was 50.
His written works were of a moral, didactic, and distinctly religious tone. His first novel, Magnificent Obsession, was an immediate and sensational success. Critics held that his type of fiction was in the tradition of the great religious writings of an earlier generation, such as, Ben-Hur and Quo Vadis.
Douglas is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,515 reviews
July 23, 2019
I first read this book in 1957. The book was originally published in 1942. I think I have seen the movie a time or two. I remember I enjoyed both of them. I thought it would be interesting to reread the book as I do not recall much about the details of the book. Back in the 1950s I read Douglas’s book “The Big Fisherman” and enjoyed it also.
The book is well written and researched. The story follows a Roman Officer, Marcellus Gallio. Gallio won Christ’s robe as a gambling prize after the crucifixion. The story follows Gallio and his Greek slave, Demetrius, and how the robe affected their lives. The book is long which allows Douglas to build his characters in a large landscape. The book is set in the first Century Rome and Judea. This is a great old fashioned historical novel. I highly recommend it.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is twenty-two hours and two minutes. Stuart Langton does a good job narrating the book. Langton is an actor and audiobook narrator.
The book is well written and researched. The story follows a Roman Officer, Marcellus Gallio. Gallio won Christ’s robe as a gambling prize after the crucifixion. The story follows Gallio and his Greek slave, Demetrius, and how the robe affected their lives. The book is long which allows Douglas to build his characters in a large landscape. The book is set in the first Century Rome and Judea. This is a great old fashioned historical novel. I highly recommend it.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is twenty-two hours and two minutes. Stuart Langton does a good job narrating the book. Langton is an actor and audiobook narrator.
November 5, 2019
Life-altering.
For the first time, I feel like I have an inkling of what Christ's life was like, with whom he socialized, what he ate, saw, did, and where/and whom he taught. The relationships and accounts of Christ's sermons from fictional eye-witnesses were mesmerizng.
All of the accounts are what we've read about in the New Testament all our lives, but the fictional stories of how those teachings changed the lives of humble people in forsaken villages in a forsaken countryside made me understand how Christianity spread the world over, (regardless of the Romans trying to squelch it out) and how the influence of a few compassionate acts can slowly, quietly change mankind for generations exponentially.
Besides, the details of life in Rome, Jerusalem, and Greece--in Christ's time--were intriguing. Lloyd C. Douglas whisked me to the hills of Cana in a pair of dusty sandals, and dropped me down into the middle of the sunny, baren hills. The whole while with an art history professor whispering into my ear. Delicious!
Plus, I listened to this story as an audio book, and it was nice to hear an Australian accent enacting the Greek and Roman people. The love story isn't half bad along the way either. All of the descriptions of lush Greek melon fields, sunny Roman plazas with fountains, and cool dimly-lit weavers' shops run by old out-spoken Jewish men, were bewitching. I was so sad when this book came to a bang of an end.
The characters, those who change by Christ's example even after his death, are of Attitus Finch quality. This one, I will pick up again. In fact, I think I'll read it to my older children this winter.
For the first time, I feel like I have an inkling of what Christ's life was like, with whom he socialized, what he ate, saw, did, and where/and whom he taught. The relationships and accounts of Christ's sermons from fictional eye-witnesses were mesmerizng.
All of the accounts are what we've read about in the New Testament all our lives, but the fictional stories of how those teachings changed the lives of humble people in forsaken villages in a forsaken countryside made me understand how Christianity spread the world over, (regardless of the Romans trying to squelch it out) and how the influence of a few compassionate acts can slowly, quietly change mankind for generations exponentially.
Besides, the details of life in Rome, Jerusalem, and Greece--in Christ's time--were intriguing. Lloyd C. Douglas whisked me to the hills of Cana in a pair of dusty sandals, and dropped me down into the middle of the sunny, baren hills. The whole while with an art history professor whispering into my ear. Delicious!
Plus, I listened to this story as an audio book, and it was nice to hear an Australian accent enacting the Greek and Roman people. The love story isn't half bad along the way either. All of the descriptions of lush Greek melon fields, sunny Roman plazas with fountains, and cool dimly-lit weavers' shops run by old out-spoken Jewish men, were bewitching. I was so sad when this book came to a bang of an end.
The characters, those who change by Christ's example even after his death, are of Attitus Finch quality. This one, I will pick up again. In fact, I think I'll read it to my older children this winter.
March 1, 2018
Lloyd C. Douglas didn’t take up writing till he was fifty. That astounds me. This is as fine a novel as any produced by someone who had been scribbling since childhood.
I hope most of us are familiar with the plot of The Robe, since it’s the basis for one of the most sweeping, epic films of Old Hollywood. Marcellus Gallio is a high-born, somewhat indolent Roman Tribune who gets shipped to the fractious province of Judaea, and is conscripted into helping execute a young Jewish man accused of treason and blasphemy. The soldiers gamble for the crucified man’s few possessions and Marcellus gets his robe—a remarkable garment, woven without seams. But when he touches it, a mysterious madness and a sickness comes upon him. The dead man was named Jesus of Nazareth.
Marcellus is joined on this venture by his loyal slave, a Greek named Demetrius, who is deeply touched by the Nazarene and desperate to learn all he can about him.
Meanwhile, Marcellus’ family and friends back in Rome struggle to stay in the favor of mad Emperor Tiberius and Gaius, Tiberius’ depraved heir apparent.
Douglas’ writing is rich, especially his descriptions. People, buildings and landscapes all feel like you can reach through the pages and touch them. When he spoke of long treks through the desert and chaparral parts of Judea, my throat felt as parched as those of the men. When he checked on Marcellus’ fiancée, Diana, on Capri with the Emperor, I could feel the sea breeze and smell the salt. He also captures the moods of the two worlds his hero inhabits: the poverty and secrecy of the Jews and the nascent Christians forms a vivid contrast with the Romans, who are either noble but nihilistic, or debauched beyond description, or mad.
Most commendable is his ability to evoke the lead-poisoned, perverted world of the Roman aristocracy without overwhelming the reader with the vile decadence of it all. He gives us just enough detail to get by, only implying the more sordid rumors and practices. This does not in any way detract from the quality of the work. (Contrast the odious Cleopatra’s Moon, where every other word once the heroine reaches Rome is about pederasty. And that was marketed as YA). Nor does he wallow in gratuitous gore—the Crucifixion and the Stoning of St. Stephen have plenty of it built in, without an unnecessary plot detour to the gladiator fights.
Douglas also casts a good balance portraying good and evil. Like in real life, it is spread evenly among the Jews and Romans. A few unflattering stereotypes of both peoples are employed, while their virtues are lauded. Come down too heavily on one side and the work would seem either directly anti-Semitic or obliquely anti-Catholic (tainting the Romans beyond redemption can’t help but imply things about the Roman Church). Douglas deftly avoids both pitfalls. If anything, he’s a bit too kind to the Greeks.
I only have a few small complaints about this book, none of which merited knocking off a star. Like most books of its length, it does drag in the middle and perhaps a few sentences could have been sacrificed to make it flow better. It’s also annoying that the female characters (except Miriam) do not seem to understand the stakes of the conflict to the degree that the men do, but that, alas, must be expected of a book from this time, especially one written by a man.
As a Catholic, the Protestant undercurrent in the book sometimes annoyed me. The story of the weaver-woman who made Jesus’ Robe was touching, to be sure, but isn’t it just far more likely that His Mother made it? Justus even offers to introduce Marcellus to Mary at one point, but Marcellus says no. His reasoning is sound—she might remember his face from the execution and flee from the sight of him. But I wish that Douglas had gone there. Our Lady would have been the first to reach out to Marcellus.
The 1953 movie based on the book—starring Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, and Victor Mature as Marcellus, Diana, and Demetrius—is smashingly good, but diverges from the book so often that I almost wish someone would remake this as a big-budget miniseries, with younger actors to match the ages of the characters, and catch all the intricacies of its cast and its plot. Or maybe split the book into two or three theatrical movies. If they managed to eke three movies out of The Hobbit , this has a lot more material already there and might actually work as a one-book duology or trilogy.
The Robe will enthrall any reader who gives it a chance. A Christian reader will find both their faith and their imagination invigorated by it, while a secular reader might gain a new perspective on the faith, in a sweeping historical novel with lively characters and deep, thorough world-building. People of any creed should be able to enjoy that. It’s appropriate for teens and adults. Highly recommended.
I hope most of us are familiar with the plot of The Robe, since it’s the basis for one of the most sweeping, epic films of Old Hollywood. Marcellus Gallio is a high-born, somewhat indolent Roman Tribune who gets shipped to the fractious province of Judaea, and is conscripted into helping execute a young Jewish man accused of treason and blasphemy. The soldiers gamble for the crucified man’s few possessions and Marcellus gets his robe—a remarkable garment, woven without seams. But when he touches it, a mysterious madness and a sickness comes upon him. The dead man was named Jesus of Nazareth.
Marcellus is joined on this venture by his loyal slave, a Greek named Demetrius, who is deeply touched by the Nazarene and desperate to learn all he can about him.
Meanwhile, Marcellus’ family and friends back in Rome struggle to stay in the favor of mad Emperor Tiberius and Gaius, Tiberius’ depraved heir apparent.
Douglas’ writing is rich, especially his descriptions. People, buildings and landscapes all feel like you can reach through the pages and touch them. When he spoke of long treks through the desert and chaparral parts of Judea, my throat felt as parched as those of the men. When he checked on Marcellus’ fiancée, Diana, on Capri with the Emperor, I could feel the sea breeze and smell the salt. He also captures the moods of the two worlds his hero inhabits: the poverty and secrecy of the Jews and the nascent Christians forms a vivid contrast with the Romans, who are either noble but nihilistic, or debauched beyond description, or mad.
Most commendable is his ability to evoke the lead-poisoned, perverted world of the Roman aristocracy without overwhelming the reader with the vile decadence of it all. He gives us just enough detail to get by, only implying the more sordid rumors and practices. This does not in any way detract from the quality of the work. (Contrast the odious Cleopatra’s Moon, where every other word once the heroine reaches Rome is about pederasty. And that was marketed as YA). Nor does he wallow in gratuitous gore—the Crucifixion and the Stoning of St. Stephen have plenty of it built in, without an unnecessary plot detour to the gladiator fights.
Douglas also casts a good balance portraying good and evil. Like in real life, it is spread evenly among the Jews and Romans. A few unflattering stereotypes of both peoples are employed, while their virtues are lauded. Come down too heavily on one side and the work would seem either directly anti-Semitic or obliquely anti-Catholic (tainting the Romans beyond redemption can’t help but imply things about the Roman Church). Douglas deftly avoids both pitfalls. If anything, he’s a bit too kind to the Greeks.
I only have a few small complaints about this book, none of which merited knocking off a star. Like most books of its length, it does drag in the middle and perhaps a few sentences could have been sacrificed to make it flow better. It’s also annoying that the female characters (except Miriam) do not seem to understand the stakes of the conflict to the degree that the men do, but that, alas, must be expected of a book from this time, especially one written by a man.
As a Catholic, the Protestant undercurrent in the book sometimes annoyed me. The story of the weaver-woman who made Jesus’ Robe was touching, to be sure, but isn’t it just far more likely that His Mother made it? Justus even offers to introduce Marcellus to Mary at one point, but Marcellus says no. His reasoning is sound—she might remember his face from the execution and flee from the sight of him. But I wish that Douglas had gone there. Our Lady would have been the first to reach out to Marcellus.
The 1953 movie based on the book—starring Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, and Victor Mature as Marcellus, Diana, and Demetrius—is smashingly good, but diverges from the book so often that I almost wish someone would remake this as a big-budget miniseries, with younger actors to match the ages of the characters, and catch all the intricacies of its cast and its plot. Or maybe split the book into two or three theatrical movies. If they managed to eke three movies out of The Hobbit , this has a lot more material already there and might actually work as a one-book duology or trilogy.
The Robe will enthrall any reader who gives it a chance. A Christian reader will find both their faith and their imagination invigorated by it, while a secular reader might gain a new perspective on the faith, in a sweeping historical novel with lively characters and deep, thorough world-building. People of any creed should be able to enjoy that. It’s appropriate for teens and adults. Highly recommended.
July 5, 2022
My mother and I read this book sitting on a quilt pallet out in the heat with a pitcher of iced lemonade in the summer in Brookshire, Texas. She would drive us out to wherever my father was drilling an oilwell to bring him a large picnic basket of fried chicken, potato salad, cornbread, watermelon, and several vegetable dishes. She would also include two custard pies--one chocolate laden with butter and one coconut custard with cinnamon and nutmeg on top. She and I would wait for him to come to wherever we were staying for the week and read books that we had gotten for ourselves at the Houston Public Library, which was like going to heaven for a 10-12 year old boy. She read "The Robe" first and asked if I wanted to and I did, which more than anything just added to my appreciation of history, especially the history of that period. I would recommend it to any young person brought up in a religious Christian household, which will probably extend his or her interest in religious history later perhaps leading to books such as "The Silver Chalice", "Quo Vadis", "Barabbas" by Lagerkvist, and my favorite of this sub-genre, "The Last Temptation of Christ" by Nikos Kazantzakis.
February 13, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, even though at times it was a bit tedious. So happy I finally read it! 😊
May 1, 2021
Translation widget on The blog!!!
O lectură emotionantă care ne întărește credința. Un roman ce ne învață despre bucuriile spirituale, ce sunt mai presus de tot ce este lumesc. Un roman ce ne expune miracole, ne face martorii acestora, ne invită să credem. Aflăm despre puterea credinței, și despre acei oameni care au avut curajul de a-și schimba destinul.
Recenzia mea completă o găsiți aici:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/cam...
O lectură emotionantă care ne întărește credința. Un roman ce ne învață despre bucuriile spirituale, ce sunt mai presus de tot ce este lumesc. Un roman ce ne expune miracole, ne face martorii acestora, ne invită să credem. Aflăm despre puterea credinței, și despre acei oameni care au avut curajul de a-și schimba destinul.
Recenzia mea completă o găsiți aici:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/cam...
March 20, 2023
The classic story of the Roman soldier who won the dice toss for the robe of the crucified Nazarene. The 1950s film starred Richard Burton in the title role. Douglas was a former minister who became a full time author. Read as a teen, I recall the writing as being very good.
September 13, 2019
Delicious right down to the last sentence! I love the way Douglas wove Scriptural figures, places, and events into this first century tale of Roman life. Tribune Marcellus Gallus is banished from Rome to Minoa (Gaza), along with his Greek slave, Demetrius, for the young man’s imprudence. This brings them to Palestine at the time of the Jewish Passover when Jesus of Nazareth is about to be executed. Guess who the lucky Roman officer is who gets put in charge of the execution? But Marcellus’s luck doesn’t stop there; he also wins the roll of the dice which brings him The Robe ...
His Robe ... The Robe of the story’s title and the focus of the rest of Marcellus’s life.
First the Robe almost causes Marcellus to lose his mind, then it restores him and eventually it leads him on a quest in search of this man, Jesus. Who, or What is He and what did or does His Life mean? The story is thought-provoking and explores many questions about Jesus and early Christianity, but it is primarily a great adventure, with lots of twists and turns. It is full of history, a few crazy Romans emperors, and the ever-Presence of The Robe.
She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” Matthew 9:21-22 How many times have I thought that? Prayed that... Hoped for that response! Maybe someday...
Have loved this story since I was a child when the movie would come on every year around Easter. So happy to have finally read the book. Great! Now I need to go back and check out the movie again ...
His Robe ... The Robe of the story’s title and the focus of the rest of Marcellus’s life.
First the Robe almost causes Marcellus to lose his mind, then it restores him and eventually it leads him on a quest in search of this man, Jesus. Who, or What is He and what did or does His Life mean? The story is thought-provoking and explores many questions about Jesus and early Christianity, but it is primarily a great adventure, with lots of twists and turns. It is full of history, a few crazy Romans emperors, and the ever-Presence of The Robe.
She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” Matthew 9:21-22 How many times have I thought that? Prayed that... Hoped for that response! Maybe someday...
Have loved this story since I was a child when the movie would come on every year around Easter. So happy to have finally read the book. Great! Now I need to go back and check out the movie again ...
April 3, 2018
John's Gospel (19:23-24) records that at the crucifixion of Christ, the soldiers divided up his clothes among them (the condemned were crucified naked, save for a loincloth which was allowed to the Jewish victims), and cast lots for the finest item, a seamless robe. Scripture is otherwise silent about the incident. Congregational minister Douglas uses these verses as a take-off point for this novel, speculating about the effect of the robe on the fictional Roman officer who wins it, and on the ripple effect that he in turn has on the other lives he touches. I'd already been planning to make this book the subject of my next "retrospective" review (and for once, I can nail down the date I read it fairly well --it was a library check-out, and when I checked it out again yesterday to refer to, the date card was still in the pocket); but it worked out well that I'm reviewing it on Good Friday!
Though I'd heard of the novel before, I was prompted to read it, back when Barb and I were home schooling our girls, as preparation for teaching American literature. Raymond St. John, the author of the textbook I was using, American Literature For Christian Schools (my two-star review of that text is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ) is very disparaging of Douglas' work, and I wanted to make my own judgment of it. As was sometimes the case where critical assessments were concerned, mine differed greatly from his in this instance.
A basic literary conceit at the heart of this novel is the idea that a physical relic --in this case, the titular robe-- can wield a genuine spiritual influence. That's an idea more in tune with traditional Roman Catholic spirituality than with Protestantism, and somewhat surprising in a novel written by a Protestant clergyman, especially in pre-ecumenical 1942. (It's also somewhat surprising that Raymond St. John, a separatist Fundamentalist who elsewhere in his text expresses anti-Catholic views, doesn't attack this aspect of the book at all; he reserves his ire for Douglas' perceived association with the "Social Gospel" movement.) My own attitude toward "relics" is more skeptical; but I was able to take that element here as a sort of metaphor, and move on. And what we move on to is a profound examination of Christian conversion, Christian living and Christian hope through the lives of well-drawn, vital characters, set in a first-century context but relevant for the 21st as well (and for any other century). Conversion is demonstrated not only to change one's ultimate allegiance, but to necessarily change our behavior and our treatment of others; and the coming Kingdom that's proclaimed as a central theme in both the Old and New Testaments is recognized as one that will be characterized by perfect justice and brotherhood.
While Douglas' re-created Christian preaching, and the religious language of his characters, doesn't employ the in-group jargon of modern-day evangelicalism, it does reflect the language and orientation that we read in the book of Acts and the various New Testament epistles; and though, as with other novels that use the New Testament as a background, most characters and events here are fictional, the historical framework in the Biblical material is respected. This is solidly Christian fiction (in the real, not the commercial ECPA/CBA sense --although a CBA store could carry it), in the tradition of Lew Wallace's Ben Hur. It's a finely crafted, serious novel, written in Realist fashion but with a powerful emotional wallop, particularly at the end (and the diction is modern, so as not to pose any problem for contemporary readers). It certainly deserves mention (and in my opinion, favorable mention) in any survey of American fiction since World War I; and I'd recommend it to a wide readership.
Though I'd heard of the novel before, I was prompted to read it, back when Barb and I were home schooling our girls, as preparation for teaching American literature. Raymond St. John, the author of the textbook I was using, American Literature For Christian Schools (my two-star review of that text is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ) is very disparaging of Douglas' work, and I wanted to make my own judgment of it. As was sometimes the case where critical assessments were concerned, mine differed greatly from his in this instance.
A basic literary conceit at the heart of this novel is the idea that a physical relic --in this case, the titular robe-- can wield a genuine spiritual influence. That's an idea more in tune with traditional Roman Catholic spirituality than with Protestantism, and somewhat surprising in a novel written by a Protestant clergyman, especially in pre-ecumenical 1942. (It's also somewhat surprising that Raymond St. John, a separatist Fundamentalist who elsewhere in his text expresses anti-Catholic views, doesn't attack this aspect of the book at all; he reserves his ire for Douglas' perceived association with the "Social Gospel" movement.) My own attitude toward "relics" is more skeptical; but I was able to take that element here as a sort of metaphor, and move on. And what we move on to is a profound examination of Christian conversion, Christian living and Christian hope through the lives of well-drawn, vital characters, set in a first-century context but relevant for the 21st as well (and for any other century). Conversion is demonstrated not only to change one's ultimate allegiance, but to necessarily change our behavior and our treatment of others; and the coming Kingdom that's proclaimed as a central theme in both the Old and New Testaments is recognized as one that will be characterized by perfect justice and brotherhood.
While Douglas' re-created Christian preaching, and the religious language of his characters, doesn't employ the in-group jargon of modern-day evangelicalism, it does reflect the language and orientation that we read in the book of Acts and the various New Testament epistles; and though, as with other novels that use the New Testament as a background, most characters and events here are fictional, the historical framework in the Biblical material is respected. This is solidly Christian fiction (in the real, not the commercial ECPA/CBA sense --although a CBA store could carry it), in the tradition of Lew Wallace's Ben Hur. It's a finely crafted, serious novel, written in Realist fashion but with a powerful emotional wallop, particularly at the end (and the diction is modern, so as not to pose any problem for contemporary readers). It certainly deserves mention (and in my opinion, favorable mention) in any survey of American fiction since World War I; and I'd recommend it to a wide readership.
February 15, 2008
My interest to read this novel was sparked by watching the movie. The novel is so much better than the movie, no big surprise there! :-) Yet, I was surprised to see just how many characters and details had been eliminated in the movie version to make the plot fit into a 2-hour presentation. Douglas's novel is marvelous! The movie does not do such an emotionally-charged book justice! The main characters, Marcellus, Diana, and Demetrius, are not as valiantly noble as Douglas's words create them out to be. This novel has many minor characters like Peter, Stephen, Justice, Herod, Salome, and even Pontius Pilate from the Bible. Reading this story takes the reader on a journey through Jerusalem and Greece during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as one learns about the Jewish cultural system of that period. The reader is learning about history and religious doctrine without even realizing it, and one has the Gallio family intertwined into such moving, historical times. This is historical fiction at its best!
Demetrius, one of the stars of the story was down played in the movie, which disappointed me. This loyal slave is brave,clever and strong. As he learns Hebrew, his intelligence is made known. As he rescues Diana from Capri, his bravery and cleverness are evident. Furthermore, the exciting brawl with Quinntus shows his strength, so he should have played a much larger role in the movie. He was the hero of the story, displaying his arête at all times. In the book, he was very spiritual and was always saying profound declarations, like the following:
"This faith is not like a deed to a house in which one has full possession. It is more like a kit of tools with which a man may build himself a house. The tools will be worth just what he does with them. When he lays them down they have no value until he takes them up again."
Demetrius is not the only spiritually-minded character in this rare jewel. The reader is taken on an exciting journey with characters that will become your best friends. Marcellus Gallio is such an ordinary, likable guy that the reader cannot help rooting for Marcellus to get his girl in the end. Their romance was well-developed, and Douglas knew just how to satisfy that feminine audience searching for romantic stories. Wonderfully moving novel! Taught me many things about the Jewish culture, but more importantly, it gave me new insights about the early Christian martyrs. Absolutely sensational book! :-)
Demetrius, one of the stars of the story was down played in the movie, which disappointed me. This loyal slave is brave,clever and strong. As he learns Hebrew, his intelligence is made known. As he rescues Diana from Capri, his bravery and cleverness are evident. Furthermore, the exciting brawl with Quinntus shows his strength, so he should have played a much larger role in the movie. He was the hero of the story, displaying his arête at all times. In the book, he was very spiritual and was always saying profound declarations, like the following:
"This faith is not like a deed to a house in which one has full possession. It is more like a kit of tools with which a man may build himself a house. The tools will be worth just what he does with them. When he lays them down they have no value until he takes them up again."
Demetrius is not the only spiritually-minded character in this rare jewel. The reader is taken on an exciting journey with characters that will become your best friends. Marcellus Gallio is such an ordinary, likable guy that the reader cannot help rooting for Marcellus to get his girl in the end. Their romance was well-developed, and Douglas knew just how to satisfy that feminine audience searching for romantic stories. Wonderfully moving novel! Taught me many things about the Jewish culture, but more importantly, it gave me new insights about the early Christian martyrs. Absolutely sensational book! :-)
December 10, 2023
Rome and the Christians
Marcellus Gallio is a Tribune and the son of a popular senator, but had the unfortunate luck to find the Prince’s drunk antics hilarious and was sent to the worst post Rome had to offer. While there, he was the Procurator in Jerusalem demanded Marcellus and his post bring a contingent of 400 men to help control the Passover crowds expected.
Before we have come this far, we already like Tribune Marcellus for his strength of character. His has a slave named Demetrius that he treats as a trusted friend, and Demetrius also is well liked at their post. Demetrius has a big a part in this story as Marcellus, and is every bit as strong and colorful.
While in Jerusalem, Demetrius sees a man who appears to be important being cheered as he rides a donkey into the city. The man looks very sad and lonely, and doesn’t seem as though he really wants to be what the people cheering him want him to be. The man looks directly into Demetrius’ eyes and he is never the same after that.
Marcellus finds that their post will be responsible for carrying out a political crucifixion, so his closest officer named Paulus helps him to get drunk, because “it isn’t something to do sober”. They hear that even Pilate does not want to crucify the man named Jesus because he has done nothing wrong, but he is bound by the politics and washes his hands of the matter. The man being crucified had a fine robe, and Marcellus and Paulus threw dice for it, and Marcellus won.
When it was over, Marcellus could not forget the courage of the man they put to death, or that those who translated his words said that he had forgiven them for his death. It tortured him until his mind almost broke, so Paulus has Demetrius take Marcellus home.
As all Christians know, that is just the beginning of the story, and it was the same for Marcellus. He wasn’t a Christian yet, but as he suffered in his mind over the death of an innocent man, one day Marcellus picked up the robe and was suddenly at peace. Was the robe haunted? What was it about that strangely charismatic man who owned that robe that he could make the powerful Jews want him dead? Marcellus wanted to know, and Demetrius was just as anxious.
This is the story of two men walking through the holy land among the intimates of Jesus, and hearing about the Christian faith as it grew. The characters are vibrantly drawn in the minds eye as you read, and the story of Stephen and Peter and the new Christian faith comes alive. This is a five star classic and worth your time.
Marcellus Gallio is a Tribune and the son of a popular senator, but had the unfortunate luck to find the Prince’s drunk antics hilarious and was sent to the worst post Rome had to offer. While there, he was the Procurator in Jerusalem demanded Marcellus and his post bring a contingent of 400 men to help control the Passover crowds expected.
Before we have come this far, we already like Tribune Marcellus for his strength of character. His has a slave named Demetrius that he treats as a trusted friend, and Demetrius also is well liked at their post. Demetrius has a big a part in this story as Marcellus, and is every bit as strong and colorful.
While in Jerusalem, Demetrius sees a man who appears to be important being cheered as he rides a donkey into the city. The man looks very sad and lonely, and doesn’t seem as though he really wants to be what the people cheering him want him to be. The man looks directly into Demetrius’ eyes and he is never the same after that.
Marcellus finds that their post will be responsible for carrying out a political crucifixion, so his closest officer named Paulus helps him to get drunk, because “it isn’t something to do sober”. They hear that even Pilate does not want to crucify the man named Jesus because he has done nothing wrong, but he is bound by the politics and washes his hands of the matter. The man being crucified had a fine robe, and Marcellus and Paulus threw dice for it, and Marcellus won.
When it was over, Marcellus could not forget the courage of the man they put to death, or that those who translated his words said that he had forgiven them for his death. It tortured him until his mind almost broke, so Paulus has Demetrius take Marcellus home.
As all Christians know, that is just the beginning of the story, and it was the same for Marcellus. He wasn’t a Christian yet, but as he suffered in his mind over the death of an innocent man, one day Marcellus picked up the robe and was suddenly at peace. Was the robe haunted? What was it about that strangely charismatic man who owned that robe that he could make the powerful Jews want him dead? Marcellus wanted to know, and Demetrius was just as anxious.
This is the story of two men walking through the holy land among the intimates of Jesus, and hearing about the Christian faith as it grew. The characters are vibrantly drawn in the minds eye as you read, and the story of Stephen and Peter and the new Christian faith comes alive. This is a five star classic and worth your time.
February 4, 2017
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, there are some moments in the story with real pathos and heart--but on the other, the narrative is a bit rambling, and seems to cut off suddenly rather than end.
Set in first-century Rome and Judea, the story follows Marcellus (a noble but somewhat arrogant Roman) and Demetrius (his equally noble but thankfully less arrogant slave), as Marcellus falls into political disfavor and is sent away to command a slovenly penal garrison in Judea--where, by chance, he witnesses (and takes part in) the crucifixion of Christ.
I really loved the beginning of the story. There were heavy reminders both of Rosemary Sutcliff's fantastic Roman Britain stories and Francine River's Mark of the Lion trilogy, and I enjoyed re-living both. The characters of Demetrius and Marcellus were extremely well-developed (I admit, I fell a little in love with Demetrius), and the story itself was powerful and seemed to be going somewhere. There was a lot of truly beautiful character development as Marcellus's grief and guilt drove him on, and Demetrius's steady loyalty to him, resulting in the eventual healing and friendship of both parties, was one of the coolest character arcs I've ever read.
However, once the characters have finished developing, the story continues for a couple hundred more pages. Things happen, but none of them were particularly interesting, and when the story does end, it's on a slightly unsatisfying note--not necessarily a bad note, just an unfulfilling one.
Overall though, this was an awesome story, well worth reading and savoring, and I'll most likely be carrying the characters and scenes in my heart for some time :)
Set in first-century Rome and Judea, the story follows Marcellus (a noble but somewhat arrogant Roman) and Demetrius (his equally noble but thankfully less arrogant slave), as Marcellus falls into political disfavor and is sent away to command a slovenly penal garrison in Judea--where, by chance, he witnesses (and takes part in) the crucifixion of Christ.
I really loved the beginning of the story. There were heavy reminders both of Rosemary Sutcliff's fantastic Roman Britain stories and Francine River's Mark of the Lion trilogy, and I enjoyed re-living both. The characters of Demetrius and Marcellus were extremely well-developed (I admit, I fell a little in love with Demetrius), and the story itself was powerful and seemed to be going somewhere. There was a lot of truly beautiful character development as Marcellus's grief and guilt drove him on, and Demetrius's steady loyalty to him, resulting in the eventual healing and friendship of both parties, was one of the coolest character arcs I've ever read.
However, once the characters have finished developing, the story continues for a couple hundred more pages. Things happen, but none of them were particularly interesting, and when the story does end, it's on a slightly unsatisfying note--not necessarily a bad note, just an unfulfilling one.
Overall though, this was an awesome story, well worth reading and savoring, and I'll most likely be carrying the characters and scenes in my heart for some time :)
May 28, 2016
Never have I read a book more deep, more powerful, more beautiful or more moving than the Robe (Besides the bible of course;)).
Reading this powerful piece of literature moved me in ways that no other book but the Bible has ever moved me.
I read my Bible, God's Word, every day (Most of the time), sometimes it seems like I really can't relate to the people and stories that I read in it and I feel distant from them.
After reading the Robe and following along with such great men as Peter and Stephanos and taking a front row seat at some of the most famous and powerful moments of Jesus's life such as the feeding of the 5000, healing the woman with the issue of blood of 12 years, and Jesus rebuking the temple for its evilness and treachery I no longer feel this distance between myself and these great times and people of the past.
Jesus died for the world and paid for our sins thereby making the one and only way into heaven it is true but He also did so many more great things, miracles and wonders, that are often told about but many times never brought to life in our minds.
The Robe brings you the grassy hillsides and placid waters of Galilee while Jesus preaches about forgiveness and a better and never-ending kingdom and the golden spheres of Jerusalem while my Lord and Savior was crucified for the sins of the world, to the beautiful garden where He rose from the grave and conquered death.
The characters of The Robe were all brilliantly done and I found myself sympathizing and bonding with each and every one of them; my favorites being Jesus (of course), Marcellus and Demetrius.
The ending, without giving any spoilers away, really surprised me but also moved me greatly to praise God for His great love and mercy so that when we die we need not fear death because we know where we are going to live; in heaven for eternity with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Robe is a must read for any child of God but also for those who do not believe for by reading it I hope that many will be brought to God and receive the greatest gift ever given; the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God bless, Amen.
Reading this powerful piece of literature moved me in ways that no other book but the Bible has ever moved me.
I read my Bible, God's Word, every day (Most of the time), sometimes it seems like I really can't relate to the people and stories that I read in it and I feel distant from them.
After reading the Robe and following along with such great men as Peter and Stephanos and taking a front row seat at some of the most famous and powerful moments of Jesus's life such as the feeding of the 5000, healing the woman with the issue of blood of 12 years, and Jesus rebuking the temple for its evilness and treachery I no longer feel this distance between myself and these great times and people of the past.
Jesus died for the world and paid for our sins thereby making the one and only way into heaven it is true but He also did so many more great things, miracles and wonders, that are often told about but many times never brought to life in our minds.
The Robe brings you the grassy hillsides and placid waters of Galilee while Jesus preaches about forgiveness and a better and never-ending kingdom and the golden spheres of Jerusalem while my Lord and Savior was crucified for the sins of the world, to the beautiful garden where He rose from the grave and conquered death.
The characters of The Robe were all brilliantly done and I found myself sympathizing and bonding with each and every one of them; my favorites being Jesus (of course), Marcellus and Demetrius.
The ending, without giving any spoilers away, really surprised me but also moved me greatly to praise God for His great love and mercy so that when we die we need not fear death because we know where we are going to live; in heaven for eternity with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Robe is a must read for any child of God but also for those who do not believe for by reading it I hope that many will be brought to God and receive the greatest gift ever given; the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God bless, Amen.
December 16, 2022
One of the repeated discussions I have had and probably will continue to have with my dad is the subject of this book; would we believe in Jesus if we were alive when he was? This book covers all the bases of that question and then some.
This book, written in the 1940s, shows the experience of a Roman Tribune given a post in the middle of nowhere Palestine and thrown into the world of "the New Testament" without knowledge, care or concern for the world and life of the Jews. He witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus red-handed, was among those casting lots and won Jesus' robe. The book takes us on his journey of turmoil, denial, faith, discovery and discipleship of Christ and the beginning of the Christian religion. The facts and history weaved into the book painted a wonderful tapestry of what it might have been like to live when and shortly after Jesus lived.
The thought and wisdom was touching. The wonderful writing of Douglas shows through every encounter and conversation in the book. I like how the author shows the struggle and process Marcellus goes through, like was mentioned by Chrissy; he does struggle with the idea that this man he had a part in killing was an eternal being and had risen again. To say that I myself wouldn't think I had or would think others were crazy in his same situation would be a lie. The transition was believable. Douglas also did a great job of explaining the parables and events of the New Testament smartly but with wisdom that was easily applicable to the reader.
When I was reading this I also thought of how interesting it was to know the power shift that would take place in the future. It's a great reminder that every society has it's rise and fall and those that are at disadvantage often learn how to fight their way to the top. And succeed. Great historical insight and if you chose, great spiritual as well.
2022: read in community and loved it even more. This is such a rich thought provoking book still. I loved Demetrius more this time and all the familiar and new faces in the gospel story were really precious this time around. Felt like it was meeting with old friends.
This book, written in the 1940s, shows the experience of a Roman Tribune given a post in the middle of nowhere Palestine and thrown into the world of "the New Testament" without knowledge, care or concern for the world and life of the Jews. He witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus red-handed, was among those casting lots and won Jesus' robe. The book takes us on his journey of turmoil, denial, faith, discovery and discipleship of Christ and the beginning of the Christian religion. The facts and history weaved into the book painted a wonderful tapestry of what it might have been like to live when and shortly after Jesus lived.
The thought and wisdom was touching. The wonderful writing of Douglas shows through every encounter and conversation in the book. I like how the author shows the struggle and process Marcellus goes through, like was mentioned by Chrissy; he does struggle with the idea that this man he had a part in killing was an eternal being and had risen again. To say that I myself wouldn't think I had or would think others were crazy in his same situation would be a lie. The transition was believable. Douglas also did a great job of explaining the parables and events of the New Testament smartly but with wisdom that was easily applicable to the reader.
When I was reading this I also thought of how interesting it was to know the power shift that would take place in the future. It's a great reminder that every society has it's rise and fall and those that are at disadvantage often learn how to fight their way to the top. And succeed. Great historical insight and if you chose, great spiritual as well.
2022: read in community and loved it even more. This is such a rich thought provoking book still. I loved Demetrius more this time and all the familiar and new faces in the gospel story were really precious this time around. Felt like it was meeting with old friends.
March 20, 2024
The crime of all crimes.
Wrongfully accused -
Unjustly tried -
Iniquitously put to death.
The story of Jesus.
What you have before you - A possibly life-altering reading experience that makes you realize the grammatical superfluity of the comparative for “beautiful”.
If you are an agnostic like me, or even an atheist, this is perhaps the closest we may ever get to understanding that perhaps, just perhaps there could have been a man or at some point in the future will be again a man/woman that was or will be a human and yet ever so much more.
Jesus may not be the main character in The Robe 👘 but he is in the thoughts and minds of the main characters, most of all of the protagonists Marcus Gallius and Dimitrius and does both control their actions and steer along the plot.
This is about Jesus, and that’s a dicey business.
Writing about Jesus one of the two might happen. A reader and believer loves anything about Jesus, even the merely average work as long as it strengthens belief, a disbeliever may reject even the most eloquent and masterful work, if it is about Jesus. After all, Jesus is virtually inseparable from religion and as such a novel about Jesus could quickly become controversial. But that is exactly what the writer managed, to spin a story with historicity in mind yet love for the subject in his heart, separate from religious orthodoxy.
This is the rare novel about Jesus that I believe even an anti-religious hardliner might appreciate, especially since for better or worse it is based on the books of the four evangelists with all the discrepancies and inconsistencies.
Wrongfully accused -
Unjustly tried -
Iniquitously put to death.
The story of Jesus.
What you have before you - A possibly life-altering reading experience that makes you realize the grammatical superfluity of the comparative for “beautiful”.
If you are an agnostic like me, or even an atheist, this is perhaps the closest we may ever get to understanding that perhaps, just perhaps there could have been a man or at some point in the future will be again a man/woman that was or will be a human and yet ever so much more.
Jesus may not be the main character in The Robe 👘 but he is in the thoughts and minds of the main characters, most of all of the protagonists Marcus Gallius and Dimitrius and does both control their actions and steer along the plot.
This is about Jesus, and that’s a dicey business.
Writing about Jesus one of the two might happen. A reader and believer loves anything about Jesus, even the merely average work as long as it strengthens belief, a disbeliever may reject even the most eloquent and masterful work, if it is about Jesus. After all, Jesus is virtually inseparable from religion and as such a novel about Jesus could quickly become controversial. But that is exactly what the writer managed, to spin a story with historicity in mind yet love for the subject in his heart, separate from religious orthodoxy.
This is the rare novel about Jesus that I believe even an anti-religious hardliner might appreciate, especially since for better or worse it is based on the books of the four evangelists with all the discrepancies and inconsistencies.
February 13, 2021
I read this in my teen years and absolutely loved it. Can't remember a single thing about it now, except that the story-telling was stellar and I wanted to read more by this author. Time for a reread?
March 26, 2018
Whew! It was definitely a long book but I did enjoy this descriptive dramatic story of what might have happened to the robe of Jesus that was cast lots for. It is a realistic historical fiction book of Rome and Jerusalem, but with scriptural based underpinnings. I grew up watching this movie at Easter time and the book just reinforced the message of first century Christians.
March 9, 2018
I don't even know where to begin but with one bit of advice: read this book
This book was on my high school reading list. I admit that I was a bit hesitant to read it at first, because it is quite a long book. However, when I got to the last page, I literally flipped through the blank extra pages at the end. I didn't want it to end. Ever.
The Robe goes to the core of Christianity. It is probably the most biblical-inspired book you're going to find next to the Bible itself. Even dozens of Jesus' miracles are mentioned in a very believable way.
The Plot
It starts off slow. Very slow. But bear with it. Once the action picks up, it doesn't stop until the last page. Half-way through the final chapter, I wondered how is this even going to end so soon? I got the to last page and just stared at the cover for three minutes, then set the book down and kept repeating "wow" in my head for the next two minutes. I'm not kidding.
The Characters
Oh. my. gosh. The characters were AMAZING. Marcellus was outstanding, Demetrius was my personal favorite, and Diana.... And it wasn't even just how real the characters were: it was their transformations throughout the book.
Anything Else?
Well, I could probably go on forever about this book. It wasn't dark or gory in anyway, despite the fact that Christ was crucified in a scene. It was real. I finished this book feeling that my faith was strengthened by 100%. The theme covers any questions anyone could have about Christianity. If you've just finished chronologically reading through the Bible, read this next. It's the "other side of the story," and is absolutely amazing.
I think everyone should read this book at least once in their lives. If the book hadn't come to an end, I could have gone on reading it forever.
This book was on my high school reading list. I admit that I was a bit hesitant to read it at first, because it is quite a long book. However, when I got to the last page, I literally flipped through the blank extra pages at the end. I didn't want it to end. Ever.
The Robe goes to the core of Christianity. It is probably the most biblical-inspired book you're going to find next to the Bible itself. Even dozens of Jesus' miracles are mentioned in a very believable way.
The Plot
It starts off slow. Very slow. But bear with it. Once the action picks up, it doesn't stop until the last page. Half-way through the final chapter, I wondered how is this even going to end so soon? I got the to last page and just stared at the cover for three minutes, then set the book down and kept repeating "wow" in my head for the next two minutes. I'm not kidding.
The Characters
Oh. my. gosh. The characters were AMAZING. Marcellus was outstanding, Demetrius was my personal favorite, and Diana.... And it wasn't even just how real the characters were: it was their transformations throughout the book.
Anything Else?
Well, I could probably go on forever about this book. It wasn't dark or gory in anyway, despite the fact that Christ was crucified in a scene. It was real. I finished this book feeling that my faith was strengthened by 100%. The theme covers any questions anyone could have about Christianity. If you've just finished chronologically reading through the Bible, read this next. It's the "other side of the story," and is absolutely amazing.
I think everyone should read this book at least once in their lives. If the book hadn't come to an end, I could have gone on reading it forever.
March 28, 2015
First of all, I have to say I'm not particularly religious. I read this book on the recommendation of a fellow Goodreads friend.
It is a story of one man's quest to find truth in a corrupted world and his transformation from a skeptic to a believer, so in a sense it is a psychological and emotional character study of the protagonist Marcellus, a Roman officer. The catalyst for all this is his possession of Christ's robe that was won by drawing lots.
I was really in the mood for a book that would take me away to another time and place, and Douglas does this very well. The sense of enjoyment I got was similar to a fantasy novel that contains world building.
Excellent characterization, intriguing plot full of conflict, a very good description of time and place, and a climactic ending makes this a worthwhile read.
However, while the beginning and the end kept my attention, I had to slog through the middle and that made me take a long time with this book and is the reason for 4 stars instead of 5.
It is a story of one man's quest to find truth in a corrupted world and his transformation from a skeptic to a believer, so in a sense it is a psychological and emotional character study of the protagonist Marcellus, a Roman officer. The catalyst for all this is his possession of Christ's robe that was won by drawing lots.
I was really in the mood for a book that would take me away to another time and place, and Douglas does this very well. The sense of enjoyment I got was similar to a fantasy novel that contains world building.
Excellent characterization, intriguing plot full of conflict, a very good description of time and place, and a climactic ending makes this a worthwhile read.
However, while the beginning and the end kept my attention, I had to slog through the middle and that made me take a long time with this book and is the reason for 4 stars instead of 5.
May 3, 2023
That the biblical story, this story and the history so comfortably work together tells me that God's Hand is somewhere nearby the text of the novel. God's got this, so I can just sit back and enjoy the novel.
Here the reader meets many representatives of the place and times. Here can be found many of God's people: men, women, children, free, slaves, family, friends, enemies, hoteliers, weaver, artist, musician, orchard owners, orchard workers, soldiers, politicians, officers, and emperors, pagans, Jews, and Christians. This is just a smattering of all the people of Roman world. In SPQR: A History of Ancient RomeMary Beard, says that 1 million people would occupy Rome during 1st century CE. As I read The Robe, I could large movements of people traveling in caravans, being respectfully quiet at the foot of Jesus' cross. This is a city and region filled with people all needing the comfort of salvation.
Having recently read Masters of the Word: How Media Shaped History, Much literacy, information, directions being communicated. The Roman administrative, political, and military bureaucracy needed clear communication to operate efficiently in such a large area with a large population. Clarity in speech and text would have at least sometimes been appreciated.
I can see the appreciation of clear message being developed here in world being described in The Robe. Here Christians tell each other stories, many we know from the bible, checking each others' responses, finding out which stories resonate are credible with others. Theses early Christians are developing the texts of the bible. Words matter. They will become the basic text of salvation that we know as the bible. This is important work of the most serious sort.
I read this novel due to a moment of inspiration when I asked a friend what he and a GR group he moderates would be reading for Easter. This is not chance. It is not chance that two other books I have read/will read within a short time are touching on similar topics. I have some prayer and mediation to do.
Read with GR Christian Goodreaders
Here the reader meets many representatives of the place and times. Here can be found many of God's people: men, women, children, free, slaves, family, friends, enemies, hoteliers, weaver, artist, musician, orchard owners, orchard workers, soldiers, politicians, officers, and emperors, pagans, Jews, and Christians. This is just a smattering of all the people of Roman world. In SPQR: A History of Ancient RomeMary Beard, says that 1 million people would occupy Rome during 1st century CE. As I read The Robe, I could large movements of people traveling in caravans, being respectfully quiet at the foot of Jesus' cross. This is a city and region filled with people all needing the comfort of salvation.
Having recently read Masters of the Word: How Media Shaped History, Much literacy, information, directions being communicated. The Roman administrative, political, and military bureaucracy needed clear communication to operate efficiently in such a large area with a large population. Clarity in speech and text would have at least sometimes been appreciated.
I can see the appreciation of clear message being developed here in world being described in The Robe. Here Christians tell each other stories, many we know from the bible, checking each others' responses, finding out which stories resonate are credible with others. Theses early Christians are developing the texts of the bible. Words matter. They will become the basic text of salvation that we know as the bible. This is important work of the most serious sort.
I read this novel due to a moment of inspiration when I asked a friend what he and a GR group he moderates would be reading for Easter. This is not chance. It is not chance that two other books I have read/will read within a short time are touching on similar topics. I have some prayer and mediation to do.
Read with GR Christian Goodreaders
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2020
This book is hard to rate. Douglas had so much skill and wove a brilliant story with a vast cast of characters, with a rich backdrop in an engaging way. Most of the characters I loved, because i felt like they were so real. A few of course I hated them because I was meant to hate them. I cannot argue with this author's skill or the way he kept my interest.
So why can't I give this book a responding five stars? While I could nitpick a couple of minor items (some mild language and anti-Semitic tones in a couple of sections) I might have been able to overlook those. In the end, I was frustrated by the almost lack of a gospel message. While this is about the early church, I actually found that the movie version presented a more correct version of the gospel. If one based your theology on this book, one would think that Jesus had come so we would be kind to one another and to free the poor for the cruelness of the rich. In short, it's a social gospel.
There was hardly talk about the forgiveness of sins, people seemed to become Christians by good deeds instead of repentance, and (oddly enough) little was talked about what Christ's death on the cross meant (except in relation to the Jews). Jewish Christians in this hesitated to share the story of Jesus with others, which I feel was unbiblical. There were several bible stories that were told oddly.
Did I love the story? yes. Do I still love the movie even though it was different? Yes! However, I can't say this will go on my favorites shelf.
So why can't I give this book a responding five stars? While I could nitpick a couple of minor items (some mild language and anti-Semitic tones in a couple of sections) I might have been able to overlook those. In the end, I was frustrated by the almost lack of a gospel message. While this is about the early church, I actually found that the movie version presented a more correct version of the gospel. If one based your theology on this book, one would think that Jesus had come so we would be kind to one another and to free the poor for the cruelness of the rich. In short, it's a social gospel.
There was hardly talk about the forgiveness of sins, people seemed to become Christians by good deeds instead of repentance, and (oddly enough) little was talked about what Christ's death on the cross meant (except in relation to the Jews). Jewish Christians in this hesitated to share the story of Jesus with others, which I feel was unbiblical. There were several bible stories that were told oddly.
Did I love the story? yes. Do I still love the movie even though it was different? Yes! However, I can't say this will go on my favorites shelf.
February 4, 2021
Ενα βιβλίο που βασισμένο σε θρηκευτικό/ιστορικό πεδίο δημιούργησε μια πάρα πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα ιστορία η οποία ευτύχησε μια ιδιαίτερα πετυχημένη και βραβευμένη ταινία.
July 4, 2012
In my book club, we decided to read this novel that was suggested by one of our members. I had a vague recollection of an old movie I'd seen when I was growing up, but didn't know "The Robe" was based on an actual book. I will admit, I wasn't too thrilled about the idea of reading it. (This is why belonging to a book club is so great...it makes you stretch & get out of your rut of always reading the same type of books)
The story is about the Robe of Christ and a young Roman named Marcellus Gallio. He is the son of a rich Senator of Rome and comes of age and is given a commission. He is sent to the fort at Minoa with his slave Demetrius, to take command. From there they travel to Jerusalem and enter the city during Passover which is also when Jesus is tried and ordered to be crucified. Marcellus's detachment is ordered to execute Jesus. From here, a chain of events begins that leads Marcellus on a journey for truth about who this man Jesus was. And you as the reader get to experience that with him.
This is one of those books where you always remember how you felt while reading it. For me personally, I think Lloyd C. Douglas was inspired when he wrote this story. Having spent a large portion of his life as a minister, he didn't even write his first novel until he was 50.
Andrew M. Greeley, who is a Catholic priest and bestselling author himself, wrote an introduction to the book which echoed some of my own thoughts. Greeley first read the The Robe when he was 14 yrs old and said, "I could not put the book down. For the first time in my life I was experiencing the power of a skilled storyteller to create a world of his own and characters of his own who compelled my attention and engaged my whole personality. The characters in The Robe were as real as my neighbors, my classmates, the girl down the street. That was a powerful religious experience for me. Jesus and his friends became real to me those late evenings in the quiet of my room in a way they had never been before. It was a turning point in my life."
"Douglas, by keeping Jesus off stage, preserves that which is essential in Jesus...His disconcerting refusal to fit into any of the categories with which we attempt to capture and contain Him. He astonished first Demetrius, then Marcellus, and finally Diana. And where, if we give Him half a chance, in the pages of this book He will once again surprise us."
I was completely immersed in this story and the characters. I can honestly say I felt a positive energy while reading it. I loved Marcellus and Demetrius and watching their growth and maturity deepen as they experience many trials. It can seem a bit daunting during the first few chapters as there are a lot of characters introduced, but don't get too overwhelmed as the story moves along they fall to the background. This was such a wonderful book-highly intelligent and profound in many ways. Beautifully written and thought provoking, I found myself often pondering some of the discussions in the story.
I'm sure this book will be a different experience for each person who reads it. But I would definitely recommend you give it a chance...I'm so glad I did.
The story is about the Robe of Christ and a young Roman named Marcellus Gallio. He is the son of a rich Senator of Rome and comes of age and is given a commission. He is sent to the fort at Minoa with his slave Demetrius, to take command. From there they travel to Jerusalem and enter the city during Passover which is also when Jesus is tried and ordered to be crucified. Marcellus's detachment is ordered to execute Jesus. From here, a chain of events begins that leads Marcellus on a journey for truth about who this man Jesus was. And you as the reader get to experience that with him.
This is one of those books where you always remember how you felt while reading it. For me personally, I think Lloyd C. Douglas was inspired when he wrote this story. Having spent a large portion of his life as a minister, he didn't even write his first novel until he was 50.
Andrew M. Greeley, who is a Catholic priest and bestselling author himself, wrote an introduction to the book which echoed some of my own thoughts. Greeley first read the The Robe when he was 14 yrs old and said, "I could not put the book down. For the first time in my life I was experiencing the power of a skilled storyteller to create a world of his own and characters of his own who compelled my attention and engaged my whole personality. The characters in The Robe were as real as my neighbors, my classmates, the girl down the street. That was a powerful religious experience for me. Jesus and his friends became real to me those late evenings in the quiet of my room in a way they had never been before. It was a turning point in my life."
"Douglas, by keeping Jesus off stage, preserves that which is essential in Jesus...His disconcerting refusal to fit into any of the categories with which we attempt to capture and contain Him. He astonished first Demetrius, then Marcellus, and finally Diana. And where, if we give Him half a chance, in the pages of this book He will once again surprise us."
I was completely immersed in this story and the characters. I can honestly say I felt a positive energy while reading it. I loved Marcellus and Demetrius and watching their growth and maturity deepen as they experience many trials. It can seem a bit daunting during the first few chapters as there are a lot of characters introduced, but don't get too overwhelmed as the story moves along they fall to the background. This was such a wonderful book-highly intelligent and profound in many ways. Beautifully written and thought provoking, I found myself often pondering some of the discussions in the story.
I'm sure this book will be a different experience for each person who reads it. But I would definitely recommend you give it a chance...I'm so glad I did.
February 23, 2015
4.5 star rating!
A riveting historical fiction that answers the question what might have happened to Jesus' robe after His crucifixion, when the soldiers cast lots for it. Lloyd C. Douglas is a master storyteller!
A riveting historical fiction that answers the question what might have happened to Jesus' robe after His crucifixion, when the soldiers cast lots for it. Lloyd C. Douglas is a master storyteller!
May 31, 2023
Still just as good the second time around. Love love love this compelling story. 🤍😭
The ending got me in all my feels, just as much as the first time.
The ending got me in all my feels, just as much as the first time.
May 14, 2022
So I've just reread this for a third time and I forgot how good it was. Lloyd Douglas is a masterful author. He has a striking way of catching my attention with his simply stated phrases and turns of speech (and the way he uses punctuation... wow). The story is captivating too. If you like The Chosen or The Bronze Bow or Ben Hur, you should read this. Even if you don't... you should read it.
It's the story of a Roman Tribune, Marcellus, who is sent away in disgrace and forced to crucify a Jew; and of his Greek slave, Demetrius, who becomes a friend to him as they travel throughout Galilee to learn more about this Jew. I won't bother explaining the plot further. You could look up a summary, or you could just read it. (Hint: you should read it.)
I particularly like The Robe because of the way that Jesus is portrayed: he's barely on page, and when he is, he's noble and quiet and gentle. We don't see him in the temple overturning the moneychangers' tables; we hear about it later. Most of what we know of him is hearsay. So Douglas avoids most of the problems I have with Biblical fiction in that he doesn't try to make Jesus do and say things that aren't in the Bible.
Marcellus and Demetrius are amazing characters, and I love their arcs. There's a really good portrayal of depression. The side characters are great too, and it's neat to read about Tiberius and Caligula, horrible as they were. I'm not a fan of the romances; it's not that I don't ship them (because I do!), and Douglas is actually quite good at showing the ways that affection and relationships shift as the characters grow and mature, but the main couple has a large age gap and their relationship isn't developed very well. Marcellus goes from barely remembering his love interest exists to kissing her and planning marriage over a period in which he has seen her in person exactly zero times.
The scene where Marcellus takes over the fort at Minoa is worthy of being part of a Megan Whalen Turner novel or something, it's so cool.
This review is very rambly and I'm not going to bother and try to make it better.
The biggest problem with the book is its theology. It gets some parts of Jesus' message so right, and some parts so, so wrong. To Marcellus and Demetrius, Jesus preached a message of gentleness and humility that can eventually lead to the establishment of His kingdom on earth. Almost nothing is mentioned about grace for the forgiveness of sins. Baptism is mentioned only once, and it's suggested that it's used to declare Christians "clean" (but once they sin, they might need to be baptized again). Obviously, it's all from the point of view of two pagans who don't understand Judaism very well and haven't heard the whole story of Christianity, but I think *someone* in the story could have explained it better. Or perhaps Lloyd Douglas himself misunderstood Jesus. (There's even a slight moment where Justus — supposedly one of Jesus' closer disciples, besides the Twelve — suggests a philosophy akin to Gnosticism. Excuse me, what?)
One other minor complaint I have is that Demetrius' arc could have been completed better. There are a lot of really good philosophical bits at the beginning in which he contemplates the gods and whether or not he thinks they exist, and what an ideal god would be like. I'm sure he had to wrestle with all of that when confronting the idea of Jesus' divinity. I just wish we'd gotten to read about some of it. (And the whole part with Demetrius and Stephanos being good friends is so sweet and entirely off page!!)
Surprisingly, the thing that most bothered me before wasn't a big issue. I used to be really concerned about the portrayal of Jesus' robe as having supernatural power, but when considering the fact that the main characters badly misunderstand baptism and only barely grasp the idea that Jesus' message was one of forgiveness of sins, I'm willing to overlook a lot of the ideas about the robe. After all, it's the main premise of the book. And while it's certainly not Biblical, it's not necessarily anti-Biblical. It *could* be true.
Okay, stop reading my ramble of a review and go read the book! The ending is beautiful and there are so many good things about it that I only slightly mind the bad things.
~ content: violence, family strife, suicidal thoughts, crude language. recommended for ages 16+ ~
---
(What follows is a collection of quotes that I like. Only read it if you don't mind spoilers.)
It's the story of a Roman Tribune, Marcellus, who is sent away in disgrace and forced to crucify a Jew; and of his Greek slave, Demetrius, who becomes a friend to him as they travel throughout Galilee to learn more about this Jew. I won't bother explaining the plot further. You could look up a summary, or you could just read it. (Hint: you should read it.)
I particularly like The Robe because of the way that Jesus is portrayed: he's barely on page, and when he is, he's noble and quiet and gentle. We don't see him in the temple overturning the moneychangers' tables; we hear about it later. Most of what we know of him is hearsay. So Douglas avoids most of the problems I have with Biblical fiction in that he doesn't try to make Jesus do and say things that aren't in the Bible.
Marcellus and Demetrius are amazing characters, and I love their arcs. There's a really good portrayal of depression. The side characters are great too, and it's neat to read about Tiberius and Caligula, horrible as they were. I'm not a fan of the romances; it's not that I don't ship them (because I do!), and Douglas is actually quite good at showing the ways that affection and relationships shift as the characters grow and mature, but the main couple has a large age gap and their relationship isn't developed very well. Marcellus goes from barely remembering his love interest exists to kissing her and planning marriage over a period in which he has seen her in person exactly zero times.
The scene where Marcellus takes over the fort at Minoa is worthy of being part of a Megan Whalen Turner novel or something, it's so cool.
This review is very rambly and I'm not going to bother and try to make it better.
The biggest problem with the book is its theology. It gets some parts of Jesus' message so right, and some parts so, so wrong. To Marcellus and Demetrius, Jesus preached a message of gentleness and humility that can eventually lead to the establishment of His kingdom on earth. Almost nothing is mentioned about grace for the forgiveness of sins. Baptism is mentioned only once, and it's suggested that it's used to declare Christians "clean" (but once they sin, they might need to be baptized again). Obviously, it's all from the point of view of two pagans who don't understand Judaism very well and haven't heard the whole story of Christianity, but I think *someone* in the story could have explained it better. Or perhaps Lloyd Douglas himself misunderstood Jesus. (There's even a slight moment where Justus — supposedly one of Jesus' closer disciples, besides the Twelve — suggests a philosophy akin to Gnosticism. Excuse me, what?)
One other minor complaint I have is that Demetrius' arc could have been completed better. There are a lot of really good philosophical bits at the beginning in which he contemplates the gods and whether or not he thinks they exist, and what an ideal god would be like. I'm sure he had to wrestle with all of that when confronting the idea of Jesus' divinity. I just wish we'd gotten to read about some of it. (And the whole part with Demetrius and Stephanos being good friends is so sweet and entirely off page!!)
Surprisingly, the thing that most bothered me before wasn't a big issue. I used to be really concerned about the portrayal of Jesus' robe as having supernatural power, but when considering the fact that the main characters badly misunderstand baptism and only barely grasp the idea that Jesus' message was one of forgiveness of sins, I'm willing to overlook a lot of the ideas about the robe. After all, it's the main premise of the book. And while it's certainly not Biblical, it's not necessarily anti-Biblical. It *could* be true.
Okay, stop reading my ramble of a review and go read the book! The ending is beautiful and there are so many good things about it that I only slightly mind the bad things.
~ content: violence, family strife, suicidal thoughts, crude language. recommended for ages 16+ ~
---
(What follows is a collection of quotes that I like. Only read it if you don't mind spoilers.)
October 16, 2024
Romanian review: Singura carte pe care am citit-o cu care pot compara ,,Cămașa lui Christos" este ,,Quo Vadis", carte care mi s-a părut mult mai bună, dar și romanul lui Lloyd Douglas este o scriere de ficțiune istorică foarte reușită.
Principalul motiv pentru care romanul lui Henryk Sienkiewicz mi s-a părut mai bun este faptul că reușește mai bine să te transporte în Roma Antică, se simte mult mai mult ca o carte care se petrece în Antichitate, iar personajele se comportă și gândesc ca acum 2000 de ani. În schimb, în ,,Cămașa lui Christos", toate personajele pozitive au o mentalitate prea apropiată de cea din prezent și urăsc Imperiul Roman pentru practica sclaviei și felul în care asuprește lumea, ceea ce a redus veridicitatea cărții. Dacă ar fi să recomand o carte de ficțiune despre începuturile creștinismului, aș alege ,,Quo Vadis".
Ce reușește să facă Lloyd Douglas este să spună o poveste care să nu se simtă ca propagandă creștină (mie nu mi-a dat impresia): personajele nu se convertesc instant la creștinism, cum aud despre o minune, fără să încerce să găsească o explicație rațională înainte.
Marcellus Gallio este un tribun roman căruia i se ordonă să-l răstignească pe Iisus, ceea ce îl afectează puternic, la început doar pentru că știa că Iisus este nevinovat. Pe parcursul cărții călătorește în Iudea și Galilea și află din ce în ce mai multe despre Iisus, ajungând să devină creștin și să propovăduiască învățătura lui Hristos.
Personajele sunt interesante- nu aș spune că sunt în mod special memorabile sau genul de personaje care au rămas în istorie- dar m-am atașat de Marcellus și de Demetrius, sclavul grec loial lui Marcellus în orice situație, dar și de Diana, logodnica lui Marcellus, deși a fost oarecum un personaj clișeic, de Marcus Lucan Gallio, senator și tatăl lui Marcellus, dar și de personajele biblice.
Povestea a fost emoționantă și captivantă, și cred că poate fi citită și de un ateu sau de o persoană de altă religie decât cea creștină fără probleme. Nu contează dacă crezi că Iisus a fost fiul lui Dumnezeu sau dacă crezi că a înviat, indiferent dacă Iisus a fost de origine divină sau nu, ideile pe care le-a promovat au revoluționat și au schimbat lumea pentru totdeauna.
English review: The only book I've read that I can compare "The Robe" to is Quo Vadis, a novel that I found to be much better, though Lloyd Douglas' novel is also a very successful work of historical fiction.
The main reason why I found Henryk Sienkiewicz's novel better is that it does a much better job of transporting you to Ancient Rome. It feels much more like a story set in antiquity, with characters who behave and think like people from 2,000 years ago. In contrast, in "The Robe", all the positive characters have a mindset that's too close to the present day, expressing hatred for the Roman Empire because of its practice of slavery and the way it oppresses the world. This took away from the book's authenticity. If I were to recommend a work of fiction about the early days of Christianity, I'd choose "Quo Vadis".
What Lloyd Douglas does manage to accomplish is telling a story that doesn't feel like Christian propaganda (at least, it didn’t come across that way to me). The characters don't convert to Christianity instantly as soon as they hear of a miracle. Instead, they try to find rational explanations first.
Marcellus Gallio is a Roman tribune ordered to crucify Jesus, which deeply affects him—not initially because he believes in Jesus, but simply because he knows Jesus is innocent. Over the course of the book, he travels through Judea and Galilee, learning more and more about Jesus until he eventually converts to Christianity and begins spreading Christ’s teachings.
The characters are interesting—I wouldn’t say they are especially memorable or the kind that have gone down in history—but I grew attached to Marcellus and Demetrius, his loyal Greek slave, as well as to Diana, Marcellus’ fiancée (though she was somewhat of a cliché character), and to Marcus Lucan Gallio, Marcellus’ senator father. The biblical characters were also well-written.
The story was emotional and engaging, and I think it could be read without issue by an atheist or someone of a religion other than Christianity. It doesn’t matter whether you believe that Jesus was the Son of God or that he rose from the dead—whether or not Jesus was of divine origin, the ideas he promoted revolutionized and changed the world forever.
January 23, 2018
I LOVE this book. Set during the Roman Empire, under the reign of Caesar Augustus, Marcellus is assigned to the province of Palestine. Every soldier hates being assigned here. It's either bat-crap crazy or boring as heck. Israel is on the verge of total anarchy with zealots screaming to overthrow Rome. The people scream for the death of a man Marcellus never heard of. The people decide to release a murderer instead of letting this Jesus of Nazareth go--supposedly innocent of the charges against him. The soldiers crucify him on the cross like any other criminal, or any other wrongly accused man.
In the Bible, it said after Jesus died, soldiers cast lots for His robe. Marcellus wins the robe of Christ in the gambling match. This sets off a chain of events that leads Marcellus to discover who the man Jesus was. This is the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus told from a Roman soldier's perspective and its fabulous!
I applaud Douglas for his historical accuracy. Jesus wasn't some long haired hippy. He was a carpenter, most likely well built, who had black hair and brown eyes like every other Jew. I also appreciated the fact that Douglas knew his Bible and didn't show Jesus with a few whip marks on his back. The Bible says that Jesus was whipped 39/40 times. If you know your history, the Romans didn't use a long corded whip but a cat-of-nine-tails. This instrument had nine leather cords with hooks, pieces of glass, and sharp metal objects in it. So, with that in mind, let you imagination go. The only thing I thought was inaccurate was how Douglas didn't write in the earthquake that shook the land after Jesus died on the cross. Everything else, the crucifixion, death, and resurrection was beautifully portrayed.
In the Bible, it said after Jesus died, soldiers cast lots for His robe. Marcellus wins the robe of Christ in the gambling match. This sets off a chain of events that leads Marcellus to discover who the man Jesus was. This is the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus told from a Roman soldier's perspective and its fabulous!
I applaud Douglas for his historical accuracy. Jesus wasn't some long haired hippy. He was a carpenter, most likely well built, who had black hair and brown eyes like every other Jew. I also appreciated the fact that Douglas knew his Bible and didn't show Jesus with a few whip marks on his back. The Bible says that Jesus was whipped 39/40 times. If you know your history, the Romans didn't use a long corded whip but a cat-of-nine-tails. This instrument had nine leather cords with hooks, pieces of glass, and sharp metal objects in it. So, with that in mind, let you imagination go. The only thing I thought was inaccurate was how Douglas didn't write in the earthquake that shook the land after Jesus died on the cross. Everything else, the crucifixion, death, and resurrection was beautifully portrayed.
March 18, 2010
The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas
Book Review by Emily
Here's what I want to ask this book...Where have you been all my life? I wonder how I never read this classic until now. It's amazing.
Marcellus Gallio, a Roman Tribune, is ordered to crucify Jesus. Although he believes Jesus is innocent of any crime, he follows orders. During the crucifixion, he takes the Robe that Jesus wore.
That dark day nearly kills Marcellus. He is overwhelmed with guilt and curiosity. Marcellus travels to Galillee to learn more about this mysterious man who was crucified, taking the Robe along.
This historical fiction classic tells the story of one man's quest for the meaning of life. Full of faith, love, and adventure, this book has it all.
This is not a quick and easy read, by any means, but if you are in the mood for an inspiring Christian classic, this might be the one for you.
Recommended for adults and teens who enjoy classics.
Book Review by Emily
Here's what I want to ask this book...Where have you been all my life? I wonder how I never read this classic until now. It's amazing.
Marcellus Gallio, a Roman Tribune, is ordered to crucify Jesus. Although he believes Jesus is innocent of any crime, he follows orders. During the crucifixion, he takes the Robe that Jesus wore.
That dark day nearly kills Marcellus. He is overwhelmed with guilt and curiosity. Marcellus travels to Galillee to learn more about this mysterious man who was crucified, taking the Robe along.
This historical fiction classic tells the story of one man's quest for the meaning of life. Full of faith, love, and adventure, this book has it all.
This is not a quick and easy read, by any means, but if you are in the mood for an inspiring Christian classic, this might be the one for you.
Recommended for adults and teens who enjoy classics.
April 25, 2023
Wow.
I have a lot of favorite novels. But this one? This one tops every single one of them! Lloyd Douglass wrote with such an intriguing writing style that it drew me in from the first chapter. I was disappointed in the old movie, to be honest, that was based off of this book. The book was breathtaking.
I loved the main character and fell in love with the secondary, Demetrius. Literally. I cried when I realized I'd never see him again when I finished the book. His loyalty and integrity was just...wow! The character of each character was very real, something that people might just have seen back then! The characters faced real problems and the story line that was a little different than the everyday experience was written in such a way that it didn't seem fake at all.
I don't typically laugh over many classics; Some were not written for humor. But the Robe had everything! Humor, sorrow, rage (towards one character in particular...) joy, happiness, sarcasm, intensity and it even wove the Truth about Christ into it's pages. This book will always be my favorite. If not, at the very top of my list.
***Updated review, 2023***
It's been a long time since I've read this book and got the pleasure reading it again with a group.
Okay. So....
I am going to start off by saying that the things that are said about the Jewish people by the Roman characters throughout the book...I don't like that at all. It's been so long since I've read it that I'd forgotten how mean and hateful the Romans were towards the Jews in this book and being a person who loves the Jewish people I could not really enjoy it because of that. I know that it redeems itself but still, I'd never recommend it to a Jewish person knowing today what I know now.
I still really like this book, however, because the storyline, the characters and the writing style is *chef's kiss*
Reading this at a more mature age, I really like Marcellus' character arc. I love the conflict in the beginning (religion vs. no religion, do the gods exist, etc) His depression and madness after he crucifies the Savior. His depression is something a lot of us can relate to, even though the reason? Not so much. And after he becomes a Christian, the joy, peace and love that bursts from him is so amazing. The love he has for Diana is also an element that I enjoyed this time around.
I found his story inspiring. After becoming a Christian, he was willing to give up everything. His family, his reputation, his beloved Diana. I suppose, especially with the Roman mentality, it would be easier to give up his life than to give up the things like reputation and family. It inspired me. Marcellus threw himself into his new faith with everything he had. Why are we not like this today? When we become Christians, what is holding us back from giving our all to our Savior, heart, soul, mind, body, etc?
One thing that snagged me this time is I don't feel it had a clear representation of the Gospel. It was often said that Jesus preached good, taught others to be good, love one another, be giving and forgiving etc. But it didn't really say clearly that He came to save us from our sins and THAT'S why He died. (Although it did mention He was the Son of God...but it never established the One True God.) If you're not a Christian, the Gospel doesn't stop here with what is said in this book, but there is so much more to it.
I have a lot of favorite novels. But this one? This one tops every single one of them! Lloyd Douglass wrote with such an intriguing writing style that it drew me in from the first chapter. I was disappointed in the old movie, to be honest, that was based off of this book. The book was breathtaking.
I loved the main character and fell in love with the secondary, Demetrius. Literally. I cried when I realized I'd never see him again when I finished the book. His loyalty and integrity was just...wow! The character of each character was very real, something that people might just have seen back then! The characters faced real problems and the story line that was a little different than the everyday experience was written in such a way that it didn't seem fake at all.
I don't typically laugh over many classics; Some were not written for humor. But the Robe had everything! Humor, sorrow, rage (towards one character in particular...) joy, happiness, sarcasm, intensity and it even wove the Truth about Christ into it's pages. This book will always be my favorite. If not, at the very top of my list.
***Updated review, 2023***
It's been a long time since I've read this book and got the pleasure reading it again with a group.
Okay. So....
I am going to start off by saying that the things that are said about the Jewish people by the Roman characters throughout the book...I don't like that at all. It's been so long since I've read it that I'd forgotten how mean and hateful the Romans were towards the Jews in this book and being a person who loves the Jewish people I could not really enjoy it because of that. I know that it redeems itself but still, I'd never recommend it to a Jewish person knowing today what I know now.
I still really like this book, however, because the storyline, the characters and the writing style is *chef's kiss*
Reading this at a more mature age, I really like Marcellus' character arc. I love the conflict in the beginning (religion vs. no religion, do the gods exist, etc) His depression and madness after he crucifies the Savior. His depression is something a lot of us can relate to, even though the reason? Not so much. And after he becomes a Christian, the joy, peace and love that bursts from him is so amazing. The love he has for Diana is also an element that I enjoyed this time around.
I found his story inspiring. After becoming a Christian, he was willing to give up everything. His family, his reputation, his beloved Diana. I suppose, especially with the Roman mentality, it would be easier to give up his life than to give up the things like reputation and family. It inspired me. Marcellus threw himself into his new faith with everything he had. Why are we not like this today? When we become Christians, what is holding us back from giving our all to our Savior, heart, soul, mind, body, etc?
One thing that snagged me this time is I don't feel it had a clear representation of the Gospel. It was often said that Jesus preached good, taught others to be good, love one another, be giving and forgiving etc. But it didn't really say clearly that He came to save us from our sins and THAT'S why He died. (Although it did mention He was the Son of God...but it never established the One True God.) If you're not a Christian, the Gospel doesn't stop here with what is said in this book, but there is so much more to it.
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