The Fisherman's Testament

The Fisherman's Testament is a unique retelling of the gospel of Mark. The story is told from the perspective of Marcus Junius Vitalis, a Roman military general, who is summoned by Caesar Nero to assist with the interrogation of an important leader from the sect known as the Christians. This leader turns out to be none other than the apostle Peter. Since Peter is not fluent in Latin, he is accompanied by an interpreter known as Mark. As Caesar Nero and Vitalis ask questions to ascertain how dangerous these Christians are, Peter responds by methodically sharing the gospel story. While Nero is irritated by Peter's story, Vitalis is deeply moved and disturbed by the story of Jesus and its implications. As the trial is coming to a close, Vitalis avoids the final sentencing by feigning sickness and escaping to the countryside. Shortly thereafter the story comes to a close. In the end we learn that Peter was executed, Rome has burned, and Vitalis has come to terms with the story of Jesus. He has embraced the story Peter shared wholeheartedly and has himself become a follower of Jesus Christ. If you're a fan of historical fiction set in the time of the early church, I highly recommend you take a look at this book. History buffs will appreciate the many cultural details that show up throughout. There are a number of Latin words that will most likely be unfamiliar to the reader. Fortunately, there is a short glossary at the back of the book, which defines some of these lesser known Latin words and phrases. All things considered, this book was truly a great read. I'd put it on par with such classics as Lloyd C. Douglas's The Robe or The Big Fisherman. As such, it has earned the rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Cesar Vidal has authored over fifty books, works of historical fiction and nonfiction. Among his award-winning books are Pablo: El Judio del Tarso, on the life of the apostle Paul, which won the Algabo Prize for Biography (2006); El Testamento del Pescador (The Fisherman's Testament), which won the Martinez-Roca Premio Espirtualidad (2004); and Los Hijos de la Luz (Children of the Light), which won the Novela Ciudad Torrevieja Prize (2005). A devout Christian, Vidal lives in Madrid, Spain.

What a wonderful book! I finished it the same day that I began - I was that engrossed in the story. This story takes place in the 1st century during Emporer Nero's reign. Nero has captured the Apostle Peter and interrogates him to find out more about a new religious sect - christianity. It is clear that Nero is trying to find something negative against the Christians, but Peter (in a very humble and wise manner) only tells the truth about the miracles and beautiful testiment of Jesus Christ. The truth is: all of Peter's answers are found in the Gospel of Mark. I like how the author did not try to put words in the Apostle's mouth but only used his account found in the Bible (for those that are unfamiliar with the Bible, the Gospel of Mark is believed to be Peter's account of the Life of Jesus). The story is actually about a particular character named Vitalis (a Roman official who participates in the interrogation). It is his response that is quite moving in this book. We see how he goes from skepticism to belief - as he listens to an elderly fisherman recount his days with this mysterious "Christos." I really enjoyed this book. More so than I thought I would. I have had this book for a while, and I just happened to pick it up because I was bored. I am happy that I took the time to read it. For those that are history buffs...the author took great care in researching his history. I felt like I was transported back in time as I read. I look forward to reading more of this very talented author's work.