1960, the manuscript remained unpublished and was almost destroyed in a fire. But Plant, a Hurston scholar, painstakingly combed through the surviving singed and smoke-stained pages to bring
The Life of Herod the Great to readers for the first time. The result is a stunning and layered work of imagination and scholarship." -
Esquire"If you're looking to delve into a different perspective of this historical figure while revisiting the writing of Hurston, this book should definitely be on your TBR list." -
Essence"It's narrated by two extraordinary performers, Blair Underwood and Robin Miles. It makes for a bracing, enlivening audio experience, as Hurston lays out the case for the defense of Herod-arguing that his portrayal throughout history has played fast and loose with the evidence and overlooked his record as a benevolent leader. Underwood and Miles read with great gusto and conviction, mirroring Hurston's ability to weave folklore and mythology into story, and to animate figures both familiar to us and utterly unknown." -
Financial Times"Plant, who offers commentary throughout, has done a valiant job ... [Hurston's] belief in the work is apparent and, frankly, breathtaking." -
Washington Post"Hurston's novel is the saga of a man on a hero's journey within a rich cultural landscape full of passion, deceit, and political turmoil. Filled with noble purpose and eloquent in speech, Herod's story unfolds in grand style. ... A larger-than-life narrative that feels like a sweeping 1950s Hollywood epic. ... Hurston brings Herod's life to light with an emphasis on the precarious world in which he lived. Beloved king, notorious villain, handsomest of all men?
The Life of Herod the Great presents Hurston's own strongly researched analysis in dramatic detail." -
Historical Novel Society"Herod is an important piece, and the newly published edition (as well as the excellent scholarly commentary by editor Dr. Deborah Plant) is an invaluable artifact for Hurston specialists and historians of American literature. ... What we have in these pages is a monument to Hurston's passionate, piercing intellect, fired by curiosity and persistence. It is invaluable to Hurston scholars, offering a glimpse into her creative process, her abiding academic and artistic passions, her unflagging drive to keep creating art and scholarship." -
Chicago Review of Books"A never-before-published novel from the arguable literary doyenne of the Harlem Renaissance-and inarguable queen of the first line. ... [Hurston] nearly completed this detailed, revolutionary rethinking of Herod, presenting a man usually seen as one of the bloodiest villains in the Bible as a charismatic ruler who led his people toward peace and prosperity. To complete the unfinished manuscript-nearly destroyed and partly burned in a fire-editor Deborah Plant includes excerpts from the author's letters and an insightful commentary." -
Oprah Daily"There is much here for any reader to enjoy, whether they are fans of Huston's fiction or eager for a deep dive into a subject rarely seen outside religious texts or histories." -
BookPage"
The Life of Herod the Great-like Hurston herself-is a masterpiece, a miracle, and a marvel. In other words, treasure for the whole world." -
Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage, Silver Sparrow, and Leaving Atlanta
