I've been on a bit of a review spree lately of Giertz books, since that was the focus of my summer reading. So I thought I'd throw another one out there by the good folks at 1517 Publishing: With My Own Eyes, a book that probably has potential to be the most popular of all of Giertz's works due to its broad Christian appeal.
Regular readers of this blog need no introduction to Giertz, whom I have referenced with some regularity. For those who are newer, however, learn this name: Bo Giertz. He may be 20th Century Christianity's best kept secret. He grew up an atheist in a prominent Swedish family but came to faith later in life, went on to become a pastor, and eventually was elected bishop of the Gothenburg Diocese. Throughout his career and after he retired Giertz was a prolific writer, including several novels I have also recently reviewed (Faith Alone and Knights of Rhodes).
What makes With My Own Eyes the most likely of his works to be enjoyed by a broad Christian audience is that it is based on something every Christian cares about: the life of Jesus. Simply put, this book is a novelization of the gospel stories. What Christian wouldn't have some level of interest in a story about the life of Jesus? Hence the wide appeal. But while the story covers something with a broad attraction, doing something that frankly has been done by many a Christian authors, here are some real strengths of Giertz's novel that not every book can boast about:
- During his studies, Giertz secured an opportunity to excavate in the holy land for several months. Under the urging of his mentor, Anton Fridrichsen, he took regular walks throughout the land and detailed journals of all he saw. This allowed Giertz to describe the atmosphere in his book in vivid detail such that one is able all the more to gain a sense of the story. His descriptive style has earned him such comparisons as to my own mentor, the late great Walter Wangerin Jr., and while his descriptive style does differ from Walt's, it comes in the same living color.
- Even though the story has plenty of content beyond the Gospels, it feels faithful to them. Rather he uses his knowledge of place and culture as well as the reflective thoughts of characters to expound without departing much from the story itself, especially in dialogue, and most especially in the dialogue of Jesus. Giertz has little interest in giving a new take to Jesus but rather in helping the reader make sense of the take the Gospel narratives give themselves. Only in one (maybe two) instance(s) can I think of the story having Jesus say words that are not in the scriptures. Anyone with a sense of a high level of authority of the scriptures should be able to appreciate that decision.
- Likewise, the book therefore never seeks to speculate into the secret thoughts of Christ himself. It always comes from the perspective of those who are watching, such that the reader might take in the Gospel "with my own eyes" (see what I did there?). The book does not stay with only one witness though. As I mentioned in my Rhodes review, this book (like Rhodes) is episodic. Giertz is not interested in telling a single, ongoing narrative but instead gives in each chapter a story about Jesus that together build and intertwine into the life of Christ. He doesn't seek to smooth out timelines or transitions, but instead gives us various opportunities as readers to glimpse his ministry through the eyes of various characters (disciples primarily). These different characters do give us some variation in viewpoint (although Giertz does not utilize this to maximum effect) but lots of reflection on what is going on. Here Giertz essentially gives the reader quality theological commentary on the gospels in a manner that especially highlights Anton Fridrichsen's concept of Biblical Realism (that the stories are rooted in actual event). By giving us the commentary in reflection one is constantly thinking about things in relation to the events around them (I should note, those wanting just plain old commentary will be able to get his commentaries on the gospels soon as they are being translated/published by 1517 publishing, the same company that brings us the new translation of With My Own Eyes, already his Romans commentary is available).
- The book does not try to cover only one gospel or everything in all four gospels. Instead, he selects a series of stories from across the gospels to focus on, but yet he also incorporates many more into other stories through the reflection/commentary, having the disciples process other events through whatever event they are witnessing. This gives a specially unique element of commentary in that it creates more interplay within gospel stories than one may have thought on their own.
- Another feature of the reflective commentary is that Giertz especially captures well a sense of simultaneous revelation and confusion. While constantly displaying what the disciples don't seem to grasp, he still shows pieces unfolding. Enough to make them stay with Jesus and have some sense about who he is, and enough to be totally aloof or make major foot-in-mouth statements. This juxtaposition is done here in a manner far better than I've ever seen elsewhere, where the disciples are usually more one dimensional (much more along the lines of totally faithful or totally ignorant, or extremely faithful here but totally ignorant there instead of this constant growth and humbling). This is seen best in relation to the kingdom of God. Giertz delivers many thoughtful comments through the reflections on all of Jesus' teachings and miracles related to the Kingdom, and yet it always feels elusive or just beyond their reach, beckoning them to follow him. It makes one understand why these men might have forsaken their lives to be his disciples.
As I noted above, this is a newer translation. There was a previous translation done some 50+ years ago that was not widely available, thus Bror Erickson sought to bring about a new one a couple years ago (he actually mentioned this in the comments on my blog post some years ago). I might actually commend that post to one who just wants a sneak peak into this book since there I translated the bulk of his chapter "Whiter Than Snow" (focusing on the story of the transfiguration). But do note that on this blog is my translation as opposed to Bror Erickson's. A reader of Bror's book will find his superior ability to translate into a more smooth English. Not only will his extensive experience in translating become apparent, but also why he is the one translating Giertz so prolifically for us today as he is extremely talented at the craft (and not just with Giertz or Swedish, I might add).
Simply put, With My Own Eyes is a well written, unique, and most of all faithful and inspiring novelization of the gospels. They are intended not to go where the Bible doesn't, but to widen our sense of understanding and appreciation for what we encounter in them. So long as one can appreciate its episodic style, the only real downside is the way the changing perspectives were perhaps a bit under-utilized. Otherwise, it is another one of his masterpieces in religious fiction.
Armchair Grade: A
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