The Magdalene Gospel

From the title and from the subtitle--``What if women had written the Gospels?''--one might expect this book to resemble other, politicized, feminist retellings of the biblical gospels. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Ashcroft's Magdalene is a graceful theological reflection presented through a series of imaginative memoirs. Jesus has been crucified, and 10 of his female disciples gather on Holy Saturday to talk about his impact on their lives. In a male-dominated society, Jesus has given them--women at the margins, every one of them--hope and self-respect. If the retrospective theology seems advanced for a pre-Resurrection gathering, the stories themselves are simple, sweet and often moving. Ashcroft's comments in the endnotes, however, are harder hitting: there her sources include both scripture and feminist scholarship. As a result, this is that rare book, the one that will appeal equally to traditionalists and progressives. (Oct.)