Saint Peter: A Biography

This is a concise, sober, readable assessment of as much of the historical Peter as can be sifted from the New Testament sources. While Grant amply illustrates how deeply problematic the sources are as history, he nevertheless argues convincingly that they show that Peter's passionate faith in Jesus and his ability to hold together the disconsolate band of followers after the Crucifixion make him a truly significant historical personality. In addition to summarizing the problems for the historian in locating facts, Grant offers useful thumbnail sketches of what is known of the historical Paul and James and their testy relationships with Peter. The book, which is mercifully free of overelaborate theses, is further buttressed by 17 illustrations, two maps and extensive bibliographies at the end of each chapter and at the back. There are also a table of dates, an index, a list of sources and notes. History Book Club main selection; BOMC, QPBC alternate selections. (Feb.)