The gospel according to Mary Magdalene

BOOK REVIEW

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARY MAGDALENE

Author: Cristina Fallarás From the reader report by: Chris Moss

… the novel breathes life into the thinly drawn figure of Magdalene, adding flesh, blood, sex and tears. First century Judea is a violent, racially divided, murderous colony. The novel establishes a powerful opposition between women and healing and birth and men, violence and slaughter. The author is to be praised for weaving the story so tautly around the political/gender points she is making; we never feel a diatribe is sneaking out of the plot.

It’s a bracing and engaging read. Fallarás is good on the wider social and political context and on the inter-personal relations. We gain a profound sense of the tumultuous character of life in Judea at the time, mirrored by the story of Jesus’s arrest, trial and crucifixion. With Magdalene as our guide rather than one of the better-known male characters, we are both inside and outside the drama.

I’d certainly recommend a re-reading of this novel… given, the greater prominence of women’s voices in literature and the church, this is a timely, relevant, exciting work of fiction.

PUBLISHED IN NEW SPANISH BOOKS DE | BR | UK

MB AGENCIA LITERARIA

Title THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARY MAGDALENE EL EVANGELIO SEGÚN MARÍA MAGDALENA

Author Cristina Fallarás Genre Literature Pages 240

ISBN 978-84-66668-89-7 Year of publication 2021 Number of editions 1 Language Spanish Spanish retail price 19.90 €

Author’s biography: Cristina Fallarás (Zaragoza, 1968) is a journalist and writer. She has received several awards for her journalistic work. Her published works of fiction include Así murió el poeta Guadalupe (So Died the Poet Guadalupe, Alianza, 2009), Las niñas perdidas (The Lost Girls, Roca, 2011 L’H Confidencial prize and 2012 Hammett prize), the novella Ultimos días en el Puesto del Este (Last days at the East Post, DVD, 2011; Salto de Página, 2013) and the celebrated novel Honrarás a tu padre y a tu madre (Honour Your Father and Your Mother, Anagrama, 2018).

Synopsis: The novel is told in the voice of Mary Magdalene, an old woman remembering the time she spent with Jesus Christ and the sequence of events that shaped the man who became one of the most powerful icons in human history. During the course of the novel the reader discovers that Mary’s role was, in fact, instrumental, and that Jesus’s last days may not have been exactly as we have been led to believe. Mary Magdalene was Jesus’s most intimate companion and her voice illuminates the story, making it a clearer and more human experience.

Publisher who has published: Ediciones B

Publisher: Since its establishment in 1997, MB Agencia Literaria has represented a select list of writers in Spanish and Catalan to the whole world. It also handles the rights for a prominent group of international agencies and publishers, for Brazil, Portugal and the Spanish-language market.

Publishing rights available from: MB Agencia Literaria - CIF B61456125 Ronda Sant Pere 62, 1º-2ª, Barcelona, Barcelona www.mbagencialiteraria.es Contact: Txell Torrent [txell@mbagencialiteraria.es] [rights@mbagencialiteraria.es] Phone: (+34) 932 659 064

Countries where the rights have been sold: Spain (Ediciones B) Prizes and reviews: The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene provides an alternative to a patriarchal version that has been devastating for women. The Mary Magdalene created by Fallarás is independent and strong - Público (Juan Losa). Comments: Fallarás creates a great work of fiction inspired by historical documents, but with a realist and contemporary touch. The result is a brave and sensual portrait of a free woman.