"She was the vivacious, high-priced hooker who fell for Jesus. And Jesus love her in return." The Thirteenth Disciple is the first full-length biography for thirteen centuries of the woman who loved Jesus. The closest of Jesus' followers, the name of Mary Magdalene conjures images of a woman both passionate and devoted, both sinner and saint. Speculation, often wild and lurid, about the exact nature of her relationship with Jesus has filled volumes. Detailed research and informed speculation offer a vivid and compelling account of her life. Thomas brings all his writing skill and investigative experience to bear on the gospel narratives, and the archaeology and anthropology of first-century Palestine, in creating this compelling and vivid narrative. "A vivid narrative, and the archaeology and anthropology of 1st century Palestine, portray the life Mary Magdalene..." -- Peter's Way, Oxford, UK "One can almost smell the cattle in the market place, taste the simple and unappetizing food..." -- Manchester Evening News, U.K. - Mick Middles: ...a tribute to one of the more controversial characters who was a part of Christ's life, Mary Magdalene. -- The Irish Times, Dublin Eunice Irvine: "THE THIRTEENTH DISCIPLE brings (Gordon Thomas's feminist sympathies)churning to the surface with relevant quotes and striking allusions." -- Methodist Recorder, U.K. "At the risk of paraphrasing Paul Simon, one can almost smell the cattle in the market place, taste the simple and unappetizing food, sense the power of the ignorance and bigotry that surrounded this story. (Some things, alas, never change.) Inside all this is Mary. Thomas sees her as a strong, vivacious character, stretching herself dangerously beyond the traditions that her society allowed a woman of her time." "Thomas is hardly offering an anarchic vision here - this is no Last Temptation of Christ - he is refreshingly unbound by the chains of doctrine. This is basically a portrait of a woman, a whore, a lover, a saint and evocation of the extraordinary times she lived in." Best selling author Gordon Thomas has created a brand new dramatization based on one of the most controversial relationships in history - that of Mary Magdalene with Jesus Christ. The story surrounds Mary Magdalene, a prostitute, who repented her sins by washing the feet of Jesus with her tears. He forgave her and they went on to form a special relationship which led to Mary being the first to see Jesus on the day of his resurrection. The biography of Magdalene is the first to be published for more than a thousand years. This is due to the Church's long silence concerning the saint who became a feminist icon. The book questions ancient prejudices that have condemned women as second-class Christians. It also tells of how Mary Magdalene became one of Jesus' followers - and how she was a direct challenge to the patriarchal society into which Jesus had been born. To Jesus himself, women were persons in their own right, to be treated as equals. However, Thomas asserts that Christians have used Magdalene's early career as a prostitute to exercise control over women throughout the ages. The story has also caused a stir in the movie world. German's leading producer/director, Martin Lettmayer has snapped up the film rights for a six-figure sum, said to represent a new record for factual religious publishing. He has ensured that an advance copy is already on the desk of Hollywood star, Patricia Arquette. Lettmayer has plans for a multi-million pound movie with Arquette as the controversial Magdalene as he believes that she has the right look for a Mediterranean working girl of Magdalene's age. The Thirteenth Disciple is the first full-length biography for thirteen centuries of the woman who loved Jesus. The closest of Jesus followers, the name of Mary Magdalene conjures images of a woman both passionate and devoted, both sinner and saint. Speculation, often wild and lurid, about the exact nature of her relationship with Jesus has filled volumes. Detailed research and informed speculation offer a vivid and compelling account of her life. Thomas brings all his writing skill and investigative experience to bear on the gospel narratives, and the archaeology and anthropology of first-century Palestine, in creating this compelling and vivid narrative. Mary s departure from the family home leads her into the even greater subjugation of prostitution. In a position from which no respectable member of society would have anything to do with her, Jesus alone reached out. From that moment, she was numbered among his closest disciples. GORDON THOMAS is the author of thirty-eight books. They have achieved total sales of 45 million copies in 36 countries. A number were Main Selections for Book of the Month Club; The Literary Book Club; and the ReadersÂ’ Digest Book Club. He has received two Mark Twain Society Awards for Reporting Excellence. Seven of his books have been made into major motion pictures, in