Alas, our The True Herod series has now drawn to a close. We hope we have given you some insight into the book, its creation, its producers, and its creator. The True Herod is a beautiful book to behold and, more than that, it is a work of the highest scholarship from a world-renowned expert. Perhaps we'll leave the last word(s) to those who feature on the back cover:
'In this final book of his career, published posthumously, Geza Vermes' insightful eye remains as sharp as ever. Rejecting the traditional villainous presentation of Herod the Great, and drawing on both literary and archaeological evidence, Vermes argues that Herod was a complex figure, capable of terrible acts but also of loyalty and diplomatic brilliance. Beautifully illustrated, and written with real relish for presenting a personality almost larger than life, this book vividly explores the history of the Jews, Herod's stunning rise to power, the convolutions of Herod's personal and political life, his maniacal murders, monumental architecture, death and legacy. Herod has both horrified and fascinated us throughout the centuries, and this book superbly illustrates why.'
- Joan E. Tayloe, King's College London, UK
'In The True Herod, his richly illustrated account of this much maligned king of the Jews, Geza Vermes once again teaches us that to write great history is also - perhaps first of all - to tell a a great story.'
-Paula Frederiksen, Boston University, USA
'This is a fascinating journey into the past; the stimulating narrative causes the reader to ponder, wonder, and specilate about human frailties and fortunes. How did a figure remembered by history as an evil genius succeed in building monumental cities and the Temple, even bringing peace to a tortured land? This biography of Herod, "a genuine tragic hero," is another of Vermes' monumental achievements from a life devoted to research, study, and reflection.'
- James H. CHarlesworth, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA
To celebrate our publishing this gem, we will be doing a give away to one lucky follower on Twitter. All you have to do is retweet the link to this post, with the hashtag #TheTrueHerod, and you can be in with a chance of winning your own copy of The True Herod, as well as a copy of the entire set of the Vermes-Millar version of Schürer's A History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ, vols I-IV (see here: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/a-history-of-the-jewish-people-in-the-age-of-jesus-christ-9781472520166/). The winner will be announced on Tuesday 27th May.
Happy tweeting, we do hope you enjoy reading The True Herod as much as we have enjoyed creating it. It's available to buy here: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/search?q=the+true+herod&Gid=1
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