David Kossoff (1919–2005)

Kossoff tells the story of Jesus' life through 'witness statements' by many different people . Most are fictional - the attendant to the Magi, the temple worker who saw the young Jesus debating with the priests, Jesus' aunt who recalls him spending teenage holidays with her family, the wife of released criminal Barsabbas. Some are the more minor characters from the Gospels - Malchus, whose ear was struck off; the healed leper.
In a series of short chapters, Kossoff brings a sense of real life to events that can seem strange and obscure. And from these statements we form an impression of the personalities, from Jesus himself, his family and followers, John the Baptist...and Herod and Pilate. Quite a quick read, but shows these were real people.… (meer)