For those who are interested, there is a movie called "Barabbas" (2019) by Evgeny Emelin.

This movie is based on the book by Marie Corelli. The book was published in pre-revolutionary Russia and achieved great success at that time.

The film will be shown at the Institute Francais at Cinema Lumiere in London on 01 Dec 2019. I had the opportunity to watch the movie first, and I really liked it.

The cinematography was outstanding, creating a visually captivating experience. Additionally, the dialogues were very interesting, which held my attention throughout the movie.

Even though I am not religious at all, I still found the movie engaging and thought-provoking. Now, I am eager to read the book to explore the story in more depth and gain a different perspective.

I believe that both the movie and the book have the potential to offer a unique and valuable experience for viewers and readers alike.

This book was indeed going to be the ultimate test of my newly discovered love for Marie Corelli.

I wasn't entirely certain if I wanted to delve into a book centered around the death and resurrection of Christ. However, since it was listed as the first part of the trilogy that "Sorrows of Satan" belonged to, I thought it prudent to read it first.

It began extremely well, with Barabbas in his prison cell, facing the specter of death. The trial of Jesus then ensued, but it dragged a little and was perhaps a touch too close to the gospel to be overly interesting.

But then, around 100 pages in, the female characters made their entrance, and the book truly came alive. It was like a melodramatic, gothic retelling of the death and resurrection. It was almost Shakespearean in its tragedy, with young and beautiful women going completely mad.

I adored the way Corelli developed the minor "evil" characters of Barabas and Judas, making them strangely sympathetic. The women she added, Judith (Judas' sister) and Pontius Pilate's wife, were simply fantastic! Even Mary Magdalen had some truly remarkable dialogues.

There was a definite commentary on the sexism present in the Bible and in Jewish culture. The scenes at the crucifixion, when the storm arrived, were highly atmospheric.

I was initially worried that the resurrection would be over the top, but it wasn't too bad. In fact, Jesus seemed almost peripheral in the book, just a beautiful figure on the outskirts.

For a book about Christ, I enjoyed this more than I perhaps should have. It was like a beautiful old painting, but with so much more rich characterization and gorgeous language. Now, I am truly looking forward to her book about Satan.

The book is far from what I expected from it.

I was hoping for a new, well-documented version, from Barabas' point of view, of the events around the crucifixion of Christ.

I don't know how I missed the detail that it is historical fiction, in fact a story imagined by the author about the transformation of a man when he is touched by divine goodness.

I don't dispute that in extreme situations, you can be convinced or influenced by countless things, just to be able to prolong your miserable life for another miserable day. I read somewhere that during life we waste years and at the end we seek moments. Perhaps that's how it is and the recognition when we receive it is incommensurable.

However, this radical transformation of Barabas did not convince me and I don't believe in the changes that took place out of the blue. I don't believe in many of the things on which the story is based and I am convinced that salvation is within us, as long as we desire it. Not in the touch of someone or something.

Clearly it wasn't the right reading for me, but surely it works as one for those who have resonated with The Life of Jesus by Papini.

Barabbas by Marie Corelli (Mary Mackay) was written in 1893.

This is the third book on Barabbas that I have read, and I had high hopes that it would be the best. However, alas, I can only give this book 3-Stars, or really a C-minus. There are many reasons for this poor rating.

Firstly, her time-lines for the crucifixion of Christ are completely wrong and not in line with the Bible. In fact, large parts of the book are not Biblical, despite her use of many Scripture passages throughout.

Secondly, her mystification of Christ, Mary, and others has no basis in the Bible and must come from her education in the Convent, as they are not Scriptural.

Thirdly, her incorrect portrayal of Judas as a good man is almost sinful. Christ in John 17:12 KJV clearly states that Judas is the "son of perdition." The title "son of perdition" is not a flattering one, as Paul also mentions in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 KJV that the "man of sin" and the "son of perdition" are linked with the Antichrist. It is important to note that Judas was lost, not saved, not redeemed, and did not go to heaven.

Finally, her characterizations of Peter are also unforgivable. While Peter was not perfect, she, like Pär Lagerkvist, seems to take pleasure in belittling Christians.

This is a hard book for me to read.

However, I am determined to finish what I started. The language is immature and the writing style is so poor that it is almost humorous at times, although that was clearly not the intention.

I don't know what I am missing. My husband and mother-in-law love this book, but I am not much caring for it. Worst of all, the theology behind the writing is terrible.

More to come later, perhaps.

I just finished it and have not changed my mind from the above. But, here is one quote which I liked: "Stained with the crime of murder, branded as a thief, and full of a thousand follies and germinating sins, what had he [Barabbas] done that he should merit all the pity and pardon that flashed upon him like a glory from the tender glance of the [just-]risen Christ! What had he done?-why, nothing in truth,-he could, he would do nothing worthy. Only a thought of love had been in his dark soul for the sorrows of the Man Crucified,-and he had shed tears for the sufferings of the holiest Innocence that ever was maligned by human malice; he had longed to understand, to know, to serve this splendid Ideal of the Ages,-and-this was all. Yet this sufficed to bring the glorious Master to his side..."

This quote stands out to me because it shows the power of a single thought of love in a person's soul. Despite Barabbas' many flaws and sins, his moment of compassion and longing for the crucified Christ was enough to earn him the Master's attention and pardon.

It makes me wonder if we, too, are capable of such a transformation, even in the face of our own shortcomings and mistakes.

This is one of the best books I have ever read in my life.

It is truly remarkable for its deep insights, revealing nature, and the wealth of information it provides.

Marie, the narrator, is truly outstanding. She has the unique ability to draw readers in completely, making them fully involved and almost "addicted" to her book.

Although most of the events recorded may not be directly from the Bible, the stories about Barabbas, Judas, and Jesus are so convincingly told that it is hard to doubt their authenticity.

Each character is brought to life in a vivid and engaging way, allowing the reader to gain a new perspective on these well-known figures.

This book is not only a great read but also a thought-provoking exploration of some of the most important themes in Christianity.

It challenges the reader to think deeply about their own beliefs and to question the traditional interpretations of these stories.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in religion, history, or just a good story. It is a truly great book that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

I really enjoyed this book.

I was introduced to Marie Corelli through a free copy of The Sorrows of Satan, and since then, I have delved into more of her works. Her descriptions are truly fabulous. It is so easy for me to envision myself in the very places she vividly describes.

In this particular book, she brings the person of Barabbas to life. Barabbas, who was set free in place of Christ. What's remarkable is that she manages to describe Barabbas in a sympathetic light, which is a rather uncommon viewpoint. Additionally, she introduces several women of that era, namely Judith, Mary, Ruth, and the Magdalen. She weaves their stories in such a way that they become not only interesting but also highly believable.

I thought the end of Barabbas was simply wonderful. It left a lasting impression on me and made me reflect on the various themes and characters presented throughout the book.

Marie Corelli attempts something rather distinct with her seventh novel, “Barabbas, A Dream of the World’s Tragedy”. Published in 1893, it presents the story of the crucifixion, predominantly from the perspective of Barabbas, the criminal whose life was spared while Jesus was condemned to death.

Her previous novels generally fell into two categories, so it was refreshing to encounter a different kind of story from her.

On the positive front, as previously noted, it is a departure from what she had written before. Additionally, she astutely refrains from writing from the perspective of any of the key characters, which is especially crucial when handling Jesus as a character. She constructs an engaging story, plausibly intertwining Barabbas with the key figures.

However, in my view, the story has two significant weaknesses. I believe it was an error to shift the narrative away from Barabbas at any point during the telling. Given the title she selected, it would have been more logical to remain focused on Barabbas or at least have all the scenes related to him, which is not the case in this book. The other drawback is that once again she resorts to using a mystical character, this time named Melchior, who has nearly complete knowledge of all events, both past and future.

This book is preferable to some of its predecessors, mainly because it is somewhat different, at least in many aspects. It is a decent historical fiction, but simultaneously it could have been executed better. Therefore, I can only rate the overall work three stars.

Du meine Güte, die Frau konnte schreiben!

I found myself thoroughly enjoying this book to a much greater extent than I had initially anticipated.

When I took it off my shelf with the intention of putting it up for sale on eBay, I had no inclination towards reading it. You see, I am in the process of clearing my shelves of the numerous books that I have accumulated over the years but have never got around to reading.

However, after reading the very first chapter, something compelled me to keep going. There was just something about the story, the writing style, or perhaps the characters that grabbed my attention and refused to let go.

Before I knew it, I was completely engrossed in the book, turning the pages with great enthusiasm. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that a book I had initially dismissed could bring me such joy and entertainment.

I'm glad I gave it a chance and didn't simply sell it off without even giving it a try. This experience has taught me that sometimes, we should be open to new things and not judge a book by its cover or our initial impressions.