Evening star., 1948-11-21
Lloyd Douglas
Returns to Era
OF The Robe

Of The Robe
THE BIG FISHERMAN
BY Lloyd C. Douglas. (Houghton-
Mi61in; s3.75J
Reviewed by
CARTER BROOKE JONES.
The author of the phenomenal
best seller THE Robe" a story
of the time of Christ, publishes
another long novel of the same
era. The Big Fisherman is
Simon Peter, the rugged follower
who became leader of Jesus disci-
plies and in the years after the crucl-
fxion founded the Christian church,
spread the message to distant lands
and was the first Pope.
The new novel is not sequel to
The Robe" The story of THE
Robe" began in 81 AID. and was told
in retrospect. The main narrative
of The Big Fisherman" begins in
the year 30 and tells directly of
Christ's young manhood and min
istry. Although much OF it is seen
through the eyes of Simon, whom
Jesus renamed Peter, the Rock, the
Carpenter of Nazareth necessarily is
the character around whom most
of the story revolves. He appears
often. Meetings and miracles are
described, always from. the view
point of Peter or of someone else
sometimes a skeptic. The author
rather daringly, has projected his
Imagination into periods when the
Master was resting at Capernaum
but these interludeS never seem out
of keeping with the Scriptural ac-
counts of His ministry.
Setting in Arabia.
Mr.. Douglas starts his ambitious
story in Arabia with a prelude oc-
curing years before the Galilear
began amazing multitudes. The
Arabian king, Aretas, had beer
asked by Herod, King of the Jews
to a parley at a neutral city. Jews
and Arabs were held apart by he
reditary hatred-a feeling which un-
fortunately the interviewing CEN
turies have not greatly diminished
But Herod proposed to Aretas an al
lance, sp the two nations could pre-
sent a common front against the
Romans. Herod suggested that to
make the pact look real, his SON
Antipas, marry Aretas' daughter
Arnon The Arabian King re-
luctantly consented and persuaded
his daughter, who was in love with
a young Arabian, to sacrifice herself
for her country.
Arnon's marriage to the playboy
prince, Antipas. did not last. After
the birth of their daughter. Fara
Antipas took up with the notorious
Roman woman, Herodias, the moth
er of Salome. Arnon returned from
Rome to Arabia with Fara, and the
people vowed vengeance for the
treatment the Kings daughter had
suffered. Nothing was done, because
of Herod's death, but years later
Fara, after her mothers death, went
to Galilee, over which her father
Antipas, ruled. seeking revenge. She
heard Jesus speak and gave up her
plan. Instead she followed Him.
"Simon, Called Peter"
Mr.. Douglas has drawn a sympa-
thetic portrait of the crude, illit-
crate Simon who became Peter
chief of the apostles. There are
briefer views of his brother Andrew
of the gentle John, of James and of
several other apostles. Miracles OF
healing are described. The trial OF
Jesus is related. The scene soon
shifts to His appearance after the
crucifixion. John the Baptist, who
was preaching and prophesying be-
fore he heard of Christ, is brought
ir. And his horrible death during
Herod Antipas' banquet is re-
counted.
The story is told in modern Eng
lish. but in language not too col
loquial. Sometimes the words of
Christ are modernized, as when. re-
buffing those who would keep the
children from bothering Him. He
is made to say: These children
come to Me because, in their inno-
cence. they are of the Father S
kingdom =" Such transposi-
tions lose the poetry of the gospels,
and vet they are in line with a
tendency of recent years. A simpli-
fed revision of the King James
version is available to Protestants,
and a modern translation of the
Douay version, the work of an Eng
lish priest, is being published for
Catholics who want it.
Mr.. Douglas commercially clear
readable style often is over
wrought with conventional adjec-
tives. Thus his comment on the
beheading of John the Baptist
Thousands who had listened ap-
prehensively to the foolhardy her.
mit's reckless predictions Of an on
coming doom that would blast a
wicked world, topping greedy tenn
Piles and gaudy thrones-but had all
but forgotten them and him--were
stirred to sullen anger by the NOR
strous crime" But not many pas
sages are that banal.
The romance of Fara and Voldi
an Arabian nobleman. is developed
at great length. This phase may
seem lugged into the story OF Peter
which has drama enough, but al
least Mr.. Douglas has not giver
his romance a Hollywood ending.
There is much in the book that il
vivid and moving, especially the
honest, plodding, uncertain progres.
of Peter, his remorse over his denial.
Of Jesus at the time of the Cruel.
fixion, the resignation and peace o.
the apostles final hours in prison a.
Rome .. Following Jesus wa!
not easy"
| 1t never has been.
I I I 7 | | | Is