Pilate's Wife: A Novel of the Roman Empire

by Antoinette May

Book Overview

A daughter of privilege in the most powerful empire the world has ever known, Claudia has a unique and disturbing "gift" her dreams have an uncanny way of coming true. As a rebellious child seated beside the tyrannical Roman Emperor Tiberius, she first spies the powerful gladiator who will ultimately be her one true passion. Yet it is the ambitious magistrate Pontius Pilate who intrigues the impressionable young woman she becomes, and Claudia finds...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061128651
• ISBN13: 9780061128653
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Best book of the year

Having just completed Pilate's Wife today, Palm Sunday 2008, this novel of the Roman Empire has great significance for me. I could not put the book down! Anoinette May has penned an extraordinary historical novel centered around Claudia, Pilate's independent, passionate and visionary wife. The myriad colors, sounds, and opulence of an empire at it's height are brought to life exquisitely and with much comparison and allusions to our own society and culture. Claudia shops for bargains, enjoys wine and gossip, admires other men,and endures much heartache and sadness. Under her polished demeanor, she has great passion and character, all of which is developed by May's excellent writing. Pilate is seen as many men of our time: ambitious, wanting to get ahead, while enjoying luxury and passions of his own. We see him perusing the inventory list of furniture when the family relocates, closely guarding his wayward wife who wants to experience all of life, and trying to wash his hands of Jesus and His zealous followers while confronting the powerful Sanhedrin. May seamlessly weaves familiar Bible verses into everyday conversation and makes the Bible come alive. The author also adds a bit a gnostic leanings, introducing a very human, endearing woman in the form of Mary Magdelene. All is blended perfectly into an unmatched portrait of Judea, Jerusalem, Caesarea, and Rome. I highly recommend this book and promise you will not be disappointed!!

Breathtaking....

...I couldn't put this book down...from the first page you are immersed in the life of roman noble family....love, war, passion, history - everything is in this book. A must read!

Wonderful book!

When I saw the title, I incorrectly assumed that this would be biblical fiction. It is not. It's a magical observation of the time leading up to Christ's death. Filled with the fascinating ritual of the many "gods" of a pre-Christian society. Colleen McCullough's Rome series made me a huge fan of (at least reading about) the Roman Empire, and Marian Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon (among others) made me a fan of historical (type) fiction told from a woman's point of view. This book combines both of those. It's beautifully written and a well-paced read. I guess my only criticism would be I'd like to have known Pilate a bit more. I know this was Antoinette May's first foray into fiction, and I certainly hope it is not her last.

Outstanding

Pilate's Wife is a magnificent historical literary masterpiece. Ms. May is a wonderful storyteller she brings the past to life as you watch the glories and barbarism of the ancient Roman Empire. Her description of the scenes are so lifelike that I imagined myself sitting in the crowd at the circus observing the slaughter. It's a wonderful depiction of the Greatest Story ever told from a totally different direction. It is eloquently written and she makes the characters real to the reader. A beautiful tale of tragedy and triumph. I would highly recommend this book. A definite best read This work will climb to the top of the bestseller list in no time. (Praise to Isis)

This book captured my imagination

This is a great example of a novel that takes a shred of historical data about a person -- in this case, one line from the BIble abotu the wife of Pntius Pilate -- and turns it into a complete, vibrant character. Claudia is Pilate's Wife. I don't want to ruin the plot, but this is a juicy page-turner that also considers issues like the nature of love, the drawbacks of power, and living with the consequences of one's decisions. I loved how Claudia moved through her life and survived, I loved how she struggled with her passions and grew. And the historic setting was so interesting to me -- ancient Rome and her outposts 2,000 years ago was a vibrant and diverse place.