Jose Saramago's The Gospel According To Jesus Christ

The book begins with a perceptively detailed description of the traditional frozen tableau of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. The description, itself, is a masterpiece in poetic exposition. It ends with a nonchalant depiction of Jesus Christ, nailed on the cross, still aware of the feel of wet sponge on his body, of the vinegar that moistens his lips, and the sight of a man walking away with a bucket, as what still remains of his life slowly fades. In between is Saramago’s loose re-telling of the life of Jesus Christ, using the events recorded in the canonical gospels as template on which to build its story - from the annunciation by “the angel” disguised as a beggar to Judas’ final act - that have paved the way to the final tableau. Much greater emphasis, however, is spent on the earlier part of the life of Jesus Christ, who, in this version, Saramago reveres as the son not of God but of Joseph.

This profound work has substantial anti-religious vision that may be offending to the Catholic Church. But, taking this piece of literature on a skeptic’s inventions “the greatest story ever told”, I find this beautifully written book (The Gospel According to Jesus Christ by Josè Saramago) an absolutely amazing read. The narrative is adorned with trickles of fluid prose suggestive of the stream of consciousness technique, which are well placed throughout the book.

Josè Saramago, the Portuguese writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998, is known for using only two punctuation marks – the comma and the period – in most (or all?) of his books. Reading him is not at all easy; however, having already read three of his books (Blindness, All The Names and The Gospel According To Jesus Christ), somehow, I get used to his style. Had I brought (with me here in Taiwan) my copy of Death at Intervals or The Cave, also by him, I would have read it next. Saramago is one of my favorite writers.

{21 February 2009}