The Lost Mary

“In The Lost Mary, renowned historian James Tabor launches a bold quest to rediscover the historical Mary, mother of Jesus. Far from the passive, deified figure of Christian tradition, the real Mary was a Jewish woman shaped by the revolutionary fervor of her time. Tabor restores her voice, her faith, her motherhood, and, most of all, her humanity, in this groundbreaking portrait that challenges everything we thought we knew about the origins of Christianity.” -Reza Aslan, author of Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth “Mary mother of Jesus, perhaps the most poorly-understood person who ever lived, could not find a better modern interpreter than James Tabor, whose life-long training in both archaeology and textual studies has given him the keys to, for the first time, construct a convincing portrayal of this enigmatic figure.” -John Dominic Crossan, author of The Historical Jesus ""Tabor’s accessible, informed and wide-ranging exploration challenges Mary’s traditional portrayal, while situating Mary solidly within the social and political world of her times. This is a book that will appeal to those who seek an alternative view of Christian history.” – Joan E. Taylor, author of Boy Jesus: Growing Up Judean in Turbulent Times ""Informed by archaeology, the history of Romen-ruled Judea and the Galilee, Jewish messianic speculation, and early Christian texts, Tabor offers numerous striking insights regarding not only Mary of Nazareth, but also her son Jesus, John the Baptizer, and James the Just. Engaging, creative, thought-provoking, and revelatory."" – Amy-Jill Levine, author of Jesus for Everyone: Not Just Christians ""A fresh perspective on a figure who continues to fascinate … Tabor makes a strong case for a Mary who was not a bystander but an integral part of a messianic movement."" – Ilene Cooper, Booklist ""[A] deep dive into Mary as a credible historical reality … Tabor’s very readable retelling of her life boasts impressive research.” – Library Journal