''Man of Nazareth'' is a 1979

historical novel Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the setting of particular real historical events. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to oth ...

Anthony Burgess John Anthony Burgess Wilson, (; 25 February 1917 – 22 November 1993) who published under the name Anthony Burgess, was an English writer and composer. Although Burgess was primarily a comic writer, his Utopian and dystopian fiction, dy ...

based on his screenplay for

Franco Zeffirelli Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli (; 12 February 1923 – 15 June 2019) was an Italian stage and film director, producer, production designer and politician. He was one of the most significant opera and theatre directors of the post–World War II e ...

's television miniseries ''

Jesus of Nazareth Jesus ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the central figure of Christianity, the world's largest religi ...

'' (1977). It is the second in a trilogy of Burgess books with biblical themes, the others being ''

Moses In Abrahamic religions, Moses was the Hebrews, Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites out of slavery in the The Exodus, Exodus from ancient Egypt, Egypt. He is considered the most important Prophets in Judaism, prophet in Judaism and Samaritani ...

'' (1976) and ''

The Kingdom of the Wicked ''The Kingdom of the Wicked'' is a 1985 historical novel by Anthony Burgess. Like two of his earlier works, the long narrative poem ''Moses'' and the novel '' Man of Nazareth'' (together these books make up what has been referred to as his bibl ...

'' (1985).

Plot introduction

''Man of Nazareth'' is a fictionalized historic account recalling the story of

Jesus Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

from his birth to his death. Burgess uses a Greek merchant recently returned from Jerusalem following the crucifixion as the narrator, a man recounting the stories he heard about Jesus while conducting his business there.

Release details

*1979, United States, McGraw-Hill , Pub date November 1979, Hardback

Sources, references, external links, quotations

Novelistic portrayals of Jesus 1979 British novels Film spinoffs Novels by Anthony Burgess Novels set in ancient Israel Novels based on films Novels set in the 1st century Books about Jesus Novels based on the Bible Cultural depictions of Judas Iscariot Cultural depictions of Pontius Pilate McGraw-Hill books {{1970s-hist-novel-stub