Lazarus Is Dead by Richard Beard
Like most men in their early thirties, Lazarus has plans that don't involve dying. He is busy organising his sisters, his business and his women. Life is mostly good, until far away in Galilee, without warning, his childhood best friend turns water into wine. Immediately, Lazarus falls ill. And with each subsequent miracle his health deteriorates: a nasty cough blooms into an alarming panorama of afflictions. His sisters think Jesus can help, but given the history of their friendship Lazarus disagrees. What he is sure of is that he'll try everything in his power to make himself well. Except for calling on Jesus. Lazarus dies. Jesus weeps. This part we all know. But as Lazarus is about to find out, returning from the dead isn't easy. You think you want a second chance at life, but what do you do when you get it? Lazarus has his own story, he is his own man, and he is determined to avoid the mistakes he made the first time round. A thrillingly inventive, genre-bending novel, Lazarus is Dead is the definitive account of the life, death and life of Lazarus, as never told before.
I finished the book at a sittingWhat makes it so gripping is Beard's limitless curiosity * James Russell Blog *
He can stir emotion quickly and simply... his essayistic digressions temper the mythic luminosity of his subject * TLS *
The approach is unusual, the narrative bold and exhilarating...this book with its melding of fiction and non-fiction, critical analysis and detective work, consolidation and controversy, is a potent combination that breathes life not only into the 'imaginative representations' of historical events but also into the possibilities of what we think a novel might be able to achieve * Just William's Luck *
So good it's almost off the scale for me. Brave, brilliant and utterly readable * The Bookbag *
Beard writes with sharp clarity; short unadorned sentences that contain an unforced, incisive wit.' '(Lazarus's) legend continues to fascinate in this totally original book -- Sara Keating * Sunday Business Post *
He can stir emotion quickly and simply... his essayistic digressions temper the mythic luminosity of his subject * TLS *
The approach is unusual, the narrative bold and exhilarating...this book with its melding of fiction and non-fiction, critical analysis and detective work, consolidation and controversy, is a potent combination that breathes life not only into the 'imaginative representations' of historical events but also into the possibilities of what we think a novel might be able to achieve * Just William's Luck *
So good it's almost off the scale for me. Brave, brilliant and utterly readable * The Bookbag *
Beard writes with sharp clarity; short unadorned sentences that contain an unforced, incisive wit.' '(Lazarus's) legend continues to fascinate in this totally original book -- Sara Keating * Sunday Business Post *
Richard Beard’s most recent book is Acts of the Assassins, which was shortlisted for the Goldsmiths Prize.
In the twenty years since his first book he has published critically acclaimed novels and narrative non-fiction, including Becoming Drusilla, the story of how a friendship between two men was changed by a gender transition.
He was formerly Director of the National Academy of Writing in London, and is now a Visiting Professor at the University of Tokyo and has a Creative Writing Fellowship at the University of East Anglia. He is an optimistic opening batsman for the Authors Cricket Club.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781846555060 |
| ISBN 10 | 184655506X |
| Title | Lazarus Is Dead |
| Author | Richard Beard |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Vintage Publishing |
| Year published | 2011-08-18 |
| Number of pages | 272 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |