Jo Carruthers

This interdisciplinary commentary ranges from early midrashic interpretation to contemporary rewritings introducing interpretations of the only biblical book not to mention God. Unearths a wealth of neglected rewritings inspired by the story’s relevance to themes of nationhood, rebellion, providence, revenge, female heroism, Jewish identity, exile, genocide and ‘multiculturalism’ Reveals the various struggles and strategies used by religious commentators to make sense of this only biblical book that does not mention God Asks why Esther is underestimated by contemporary feminist scholars despite a long history of subversive rewritings Compares the most influential Jewish and Christian interpretations and interpreters Includes an introduction to the book’s myriad representations in literature, music, and art Published in the reception-history series, Blackwell Bible Commentaries

Esther Through the Centuries

Andrew Tate

Mark Knight

The editors bring together a selection of key critical and theoretical materials from the last thirty years or so that focus on the long and complex relationship between the western literary tradition and the Jewish and Christian scriptures. Arranged across nine sections, eachcontains an introduction, approximately four previously published extracts, and further reading lists. This book is essential reading for anyone studying Literature and the Bible on undergraduate English, Religion and Theology degrees.

A Reader

Literature and the Bible

This collection of essays considers the return of the religious in contemporary literary studies. In the twenty-first century it is now possible to detect a new sacred 'turn' in thought and writing. For some writers, this post-secular identity plays itself out in both a recuperation of religious traditions (Catholicism, Puritanism, Judaism) and a re-invention of the religious imaginary (apophaticism, messianism, apocalypticism, fundamentalism). In literary studies, the implications of the post-secular are revitalizing critical engagement with canonical works and fuelling the reclaiming of neglected writings as questions of the construction of spiritual identities come once again to the fore.

Jo Carruthers

Books

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