Lesley's review

Jezebel: The Untold Story of the Bible's Harlot Queen
by Lesley Hazleton (Goodreads author!)

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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1759774.Jezebel_The_Untold_Story_of_the_Bible_s_Harlot_Queen?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Jezebel: The Untold Story of the Bible's Harlot Queen" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1187837393m/1759774.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1759774.Jezebel_The_Untold_Story_of_the_Bible_s_Harlot_Queen?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Jezebel: The Untold Story of the Bible's Harlot Queen</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/192732.Lesley_Hazleton">Lesley Hazleton</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8049438?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 5 of 5 stars It's a pleasure to read this hot-off-the-press, gorgeous creative work of nonfiction. Hazleton is a magical writer who brings long-dead women and men and cultures back to life with evocative, sensual prose and imagery that seems to breathe and flower like a garden. I wish I'd had history books like this - Jezebel and Hazleton's earlier award-winning Mary: A Flesh-and-Blood Biography of the Virgin Mother- when I was a young girl intrigued by the ancient world but repelled by the arid, patriarchal tomes available then (including the Old Testament). 
 The research in Jezebel is erudite, far-reaching and - as far I can tell - impeccable, and it is enrichened by Hazletons' own knowledge and authentic feel for the land, where she lived in its modern version. Yet the details are never overwhelming, academic or dry. This secular book is aimed to entertain and titillate while it re-educates us and digs up long-buried and misundertood artifacts and characters. It is not propaganda or a spiritual tract. It is good, fun, sexy, sometimes shocking and gory history that sheds light on one of the most fascinating aspects of human culture played out time and time again: how a polytheistic, goddess-oriented society loses out to a monotheistic, patriarchal society and how this power play becomes reflected in a re-writing of history and a debasement of the feminine, of women, of goddesses and animals gods, and of ancient queens. 
 Not raised in any of the religious traditions originating in the Middle East, I'd had little exposure to Jezebel and the other characters in this vast cast,(however, I did gather that a "Jezebel" was apparently an "evil slut". Now I know where that term comes from). My lack of judeo-christian background didn't make this book any less intriguing; I appreciate it as I do any well-told epic story of any culture. I feel less ignorant now. I especially appreciate the retelling of history/myths from a nonstrident "feminist" viewpoint such as Hazleton's. (By "feminist" I mean from the point of view of a woman - or seeing women as fully fledged and important human beings, not mere stage props, vessels for ancient semen, son-bearers, or passive victims of massacres. And "feminist" as understanding the ancient female experience as one that is interesting and worthy of meticulous study. 
 I am going to put Jezebel on my book shelf next to The Underside of History: A View of Women Through Time Volume 1,The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets,and The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future
 By Lesley Thomas, author of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.goodreads.com">Flight of the Goose</a>
 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/272844?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Lesley's review
rating:

recommended for: everyone
status: Read in October, 2007

It's a pleasure to read this hot-off-the-press, gorgeous creative work of nonfiction. Hazleton is a magical writer who brings long-dead women and men and cultures back to life with evocative, sensual prose and imagery that seems to breathe and flower like a garden. I wish I'd had history books like this - Jezebel and Hazleton's earlier award-winning Mary: A Flesh-and-Blood Biography of the Virgin Mother- when I was a young girl intrigued by the ancient world but repelled by the arid, patriarchal tomes available then (including the Old Testament).
The research in Jezebel is erudite, far-reaching and - as far I can tell - impeccable, and it is enrichened by Hazletons' own knowledge and authentic feel for the land, where she lived in its modern version. Yet the details are never overwhelming, academic or dry. This secular book is aimed to entertain and titillate while it re-educates us and digs up long-buried and misundertood artifacts and characters. It is not prop...more It's a pleasure to read this hot-off-the-press, gorgeous creative work of nonfiction. Hazleton is a magical writer who brings long-dead women and men and cultures back to life with evocative, sensual prose and imagery that seems to breathe and flower like a garden. I wish I'd had history books like this - Jezebel and Hazleton's earlier award-winning Mary: A Flesh-and-Blood Biography of the Virgin Mother- when I was a young girl intrigued by the ancient world but repelled by the arid, patriarchal tomes available then (including the Old Testament).
The research in Jezebel is erudite, far-reaching and - as far I can tell - impeccable, and it is enrichened by Hazletons' own knowledge and authentic feel for the land, where she lived in its modern version. Yet the details are never overwhelming, academic or dry. This secular book is aimed to entertain and titillate while it re-educates us and digs up long-buried and misundertood artifacts and characters. It is not propaganda or a spiritual tract. It is good, fun, sexy, sometimes shocking and gory history that sheds light on one of the most fascinating aspects of human culture played out time and time again: how a polytheistic, goddess-oriented society loses out to a monotheistic, patriarchal society and how this power play becomes reflected in a re-writing of history and a debasement of the feminine, of women, of goddesses and animals gods, and of ancient queens.
Not raised in any of the religious traditions originating in the Middle East, I'd had little exposure to Jezebel and the other characters in this vast cast,(however, I did gather that a "Jezebel" was apparently an "evil slut". Now I know where that term comes from). My lack of judeo-christian background didn't make this book any less intriguing; I appreciate it as I do any well-told epic story of any culture. I feel less ignorant now. I especially appreciate the retelling of history/myths from a nonstrident "feminist" viewpoint such as Hazleton's. (By "feminist" I mean from the point of view of a woman - or seeing women as fully fledged and important human beings, not mere stage props, vessels for ancient semen, son-bearers, or passive victims of massacres. And "feminist" as understanding the ancient female experience as one that is interesting and worthy of meticulous study.
I am going to put Jezebel on my book shelf next to The Underside of History: A View of Women Through Time Volume 1,The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets,and The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future
By Lesley Thomas, author of Flight of the Goose
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message 1: by Lesley

10/22/2007 10:16AM

In case you're wondering what's going on here, the above review was written by Lesley Thomas, an extraordinary writer in her own right/write, not by me, the author of 'Jezebel.' Though of course I fully endorse everything Lesley Thomas so generously says...
-- Lesley Hazleton