The Big Fisherman

The Big Fisherman follows the journey of Fara, daughter of an Arabian princess and Herod Antipas, as she seeks revenge against her father who abandoned her mother. The story takes place in ancient Galilee and Arabia during the time of Jesus Christ. The narrative centers on Simon Peter, a fisherman who becomes one of Jesus' disciples, and his interactions with Fara as she infiltrates Herod's household. Their paths intersect with other significant biblical figures including John the Baptist, creating a rich historical backdrop. The book blends historical elements with fictional storytelling, depicting both the political landscape of the Roman Empire and the emerging Christian movement. As a best-selling novel of 1948, it spent 16 weeks at the top of the New York Times Best Seller list. The novel explores themes of revenge, forgiveness, and spiritual transformation against the backdrop of first-century religious and political upheaval. Through its characters' journeys, it examines how encounters with faith can alter the course of lives.

Readers describe this Biblical fiction work as slower-paced and more challenging to get into compared to Douglas's other novels. Many note it requires patience in the first 100 pages before the narrative gains momentum. Readers appreciate: - Rich historical detail and research - Complex character development of Simon Peter - Parallel storylines that eventually converge - Portrayal of Jesus through others' perspectives Common criticisms: - Dense prose that can feel dated - Too many subplots and characters to track - Lengthy setup before main story emerges Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (150+ ratings) Reader quotes: "Takes time to build but worth the investment" - Goodreads reviewer "More demanding than 'The Robe' but equally rewarding" - Amazon reviewer "Could have been edited down by 100 pages" - Goodreads reviewer

Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace This historical novel depicts a first-century Jewish prince's journey through faith, revenge, and redemption during the time of Christ.

The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas The story follows a Roman tribune who oversees Christ's crucifixion and becomes drawn into the early Christian movement through his quest to understand the power of Jesus's robe.

Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz This tale weaves together the persecution of early Christians in Rome with a love story between a Roman patrician and a Christian woman during Nero's reign.

The Silver Chalice by Thomas B. Costain A young artisan's commission to create a silver casing for the Holy Grail leads him through the world of early Christianity and its key figures.

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare A young Jewish rebel in Galilee encounters Jesus's teachings while plotting revenge against the Romans who killed his parents.

🔷 Lloyd C. Douglas wrote this book in 1948, and it became his final novel before his death - ending a career that included multiple bestsellers like "Magnificent Obsession" and "The Robe" 🔷 The book was adapted into a major motion picture in 1959, starring Howard Keel as Simon Peter and Susan Kohner as Fara, produced by Walt Disney's Buena Vista Distribution 🔷 Before becoming a novelist at age 50, Douglas served as a Lutheran minister for 30 years, which deeply influenced his writing's focus on spiritual themes and biblical narratives 🔷 The historical figure Herod Antipas, featured in the book, was the son of Herod the Great and served as tetrarch of Galilee from 4 BCE to 39 CE, known for his role in the executions of both John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth 🔷 The book's depiction of Simon Peter as "The Big Fisherman" draws from biblical accounts of his life as a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee before becoming one of Jesus's first disciples and a key figure in early Christianity