Reviewed by Amanda Wells
Allan Handyside spent World War II in inhumane conditions separated from his family. Not fighting Germans or the Japanese half a world away; he was detained for his pacifist beliefs in Rangipo Prison, near Turangi.
Handyside’s is a fascinating story of adherence to an ideal in the face of scorn and considerable pressure to recount and conform. Along with a number of fellow Methodist pacifists, after refusing to be drafted into military service, he is sent to a detention camp. A refusal to limit the scope of Bible study meetings sends him to Rangipo Prison camp, where he remains until six months after the war ends.
Handyside’s journey from normal life to prison detention and finally back to society is overshadowed by his account of others’ experiences and by the playing out of a war on the other side of the world. The “conchies” believed that if everyone worldwide refused to participate in the barbarism of war, it would cease. This didn’t mean they had anything but repulsion for Hitler and his activities, but that they had faith in humanity’s nobler qualities. Unsurprisingly, this distinction was lost on their peers. Families, particularly wives, had to cope with criticism and even abuse from others whose sons were away fighting.
The often meandering story, with its share of personal letters and quotes from regulations, gives a sense of the author’s character and his determined adherence to what he sees as his faith’s principles. He will not compromise his stance in the face of considerable pressure, both from parents and prison authorities.
Some proofing errors detract from the flow of the document, which is very much a personal memoir rather than a scholarly history. Rigorous editing and some reordering of material could have pruned the story back to its essential personal narrative but, as the author’s sons say in the foreword: “Our family are publishing this book, not because it will be a best seller, but because it captures a piece of New Zealand history that is not well known.”
Reviewed by Juliette Bowater
Anne Rice, she is a New Orleans-born, lapsed-Catholic who for the last 30 years has made her name (and fortune) writing books about vampires, witches and the occult in general. So what, may you ask, is she doing writing a fictional account of Jesus’ early years?
So let me place my disclaimer at the beginning of this piece – I have long been a fan of her work. Not because I believe in vampires, but because I share her interest in symbols and concepts. Rice uses the concept of vampires as a way for her to explore humankind’s relationship with God.
So in a lot of ways, it is not surprising that Rice has turned her attention to what she terms “the ultimate immortal” Jesus Christ. Only this time, instead of him being separated from God through some terrible sin, his separation is caused by him being born into a mortal body - complete with its flaws and limited ability to understand.
The story is told by Jesus himself and covers one year from the time he and his family leave Alexandria . Throughout this time we are introduced to places such as Jerusalem , Nazareth and Sephorris through this child’s eyes. Through Jesus we also see his parents and the strange dynamic that existed between him and his stepbrother James.
One criticism of the story is that of the depiction of Mary. In this book she comes across as a child-like simpleton. I have always thought of Mary as a particularly resilient woman. After all, she was a Maiden of the Temple suddenly pregnant and seeing angels. This would have taken an awesome amount of mental strength to deal with.
One of the strengths of this book, and of any book by Rice, is her attention to detail. Rice has meticulously researched the period to create an authentic world for Jesus and his family to reside in.
However, the standout strength of the book is Rice’s desire to know Jesus both as the Son of God and as a human in his time on Earth. She dares to ask what, on the surface, are quite simple questions, but which are theologically important all the same. Such as, did he know that he was God incarnate? And if he did know, how did he relate his experiences as a human to his status as creator of all?
The natural conclusion of this line of questioning being “What was he trying to achieve?” In short, Rice is prepared to commit not only her mind and soul but also her heart to trying to unravel the mystery that Jesus’ life and experiences present to Christians and non-Christians alike.