Acts of the Women is grounded in one of the most known and most sacred stories in history, the death of Jesus Christ. Author Patrick Anderson significantly twists this story by telling it from the points of view of the women involved, many of whom are well known, others less so. The book succeeds at presenting a fresh look at a two-millennium old story and provides some nice glimpses into ancient times such as the Library at Alexandria. There’s also a switch from the biblical timbre to a somewhat humorous tone. People who adhere strongly to a literal version of the Bible may be offended, but as an atheist, I found it refreshing.
The women presented are intelligent, well-educated, and capable of running the show single-handedly as they and their families spread the word of the Christos through western Europe and the far East. Each woman talks about “the look,” a stare they learn from their mothers, designed to quell the behavior of any man and coerce the behavior the women desire, their way of subverting their male-dominated world. I found them not so strong as devious. As a feminist, I find these women’s attitudes toward men offensive; I would have preferred that women and men work together equally without relying on subterfuge.
Some of the vocabulary seemed modern and anachronistic. Buckboard which dates from the 1830s. I was immediately taken out of the story with visions of the American West, and germ in the sense of disease did not appear until the late 18th century.
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Acts of the Women (Adelaide Books, December 29, 2021) is available through:
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