Name: First Christmas
SKU: 54488856
Price: 648.00 TWD
Availability: InStock
Author: Stephen Mitchell
ISBN: 9781250861801

Type

Physical Book

Author

Stephen Mitchell

Publisher

St. Martin's Essentials

Language

English

Pages

224

Format

Paperback

Dimensions

18.5x12.1x1.5 cm

Weight

0.20 kg.

ISBN13

9781250861801

Synopsis "First Christmas "

"I love The First Christmas. What a charming way Stephen Mitchell has found to tell my favorite story of all, the Nativity, character by character (I love the donkey and the ox), with wise and thrilling interludes about God, reality, truth." -Anne Lamott In The First Christmas, Stephen Mitchell brings the Nativity story to vivid life as never before. A narrative that is only sketched out in two Gospels becomes fully realized here with nuanced characters and a setting that reflects the culture of the time. Mitchell has suffused the birth of Jesus with a sense of beauty that will delight and astonish readers. In this version, we see the world through the eyes of a Whitmanesque ox and a visionary donkey, starry-eyed shepherds and Zen-like wise men, each of them providing a unique perspective on a scene that is, in Western culture, the central symbol for good tidings of great joy. Rather than superimposing later Christian concepts onto the Annunciation and Nativity scenes, he imagines Mary and Joseph experiencing the angelic message as a young Jewish woman and man living in the year 4 bce might have experienced it, with terror, dismay, and ultimate acceptance. In this context, their yes becomes an act of great moral courage. Readers of every background will be enchanted by this startlingly beautiful reimagining of the Christmas tale.

Stephen Mitchell

(Author)

View Author's Page

Stephen Mitchell is an American writer, translator, and poet noted for his ability to adapt classic texts into accessible, contemporary language. Throughout his career, he has worked in genres such as poetry, philosophy, and spirituality. One of his most famous works is Loving What Is (2002), co-written with Byron Katie, a book that explores self-awareness and personal acceptance.

Mitchell is also recognized for his translations of fundamental texts like the Tao Te Ching (1988) and the Book of Job (1987), which have been praised for their poetic sensitivity and fidelity to the original spirit. His work combines literary depth and clarity, bringing readers closer to texts of great spiritual and philosophical relevance.

See less