Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1160219 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Synopsis
Did Jesus marry and have children? If so, what happened to his family? In this text, Laurence Gardner argues that he has proved that there is an authentic line of succession to the Blood Royal, from the sons of Jesus and James down through the centuries to the present day.

Customer Reviews

This Book changed my beliefs.
I am by nature fairly sceptical, and I did not take on board as fact much of the theory. Some points I didn't disbelieve so much as decide to keep an open mind on. What the book did for me was to make me question some of my long-held previous assumptions,and to think laterally about the given facts of history.
If you start from a position of blanking out your own preconceived positions and beliefs, and 'go with the flow' so to speak, the book is well argued and very interesting.
It is difficult to discuss which of my beliefs it actually changed without upsetting Roman Catholics, so suffice it to say that you should only read this book if you have an open mind.
It depends from where you start: scholars will no doubt be dismissive, historians will definitely sneer, committed Christians may be outraged,
tabloid newspaper readers would get bored after the first chapter, readers who believe in mysticism or are easily swayed by a clever arguement will go for the whole idea, and an averagely intelligent open minded individual would definitely find it interesting and thought provoking.
One thing that worried me was the author's proud claim to have access to sources not available to others, (mentions of Sacred Orders and Rosicrucians) which, rather than impressing me, immediately made me feel alienated and sceptical.
Having said that, I would definitely recommend the book to anyone who enjoys reading other peoples' ideas.

If you like fruitcake...
I was inspired to read this book because an elist I'm in compared it favourably with the 'scholarship' of the Holy Blood and the Holy Grail: well, I enjoyed it, but then I like fruitcake, but scholarship it ain't. The copious references are to similar works in the Celtic twilight of geomancy/conspiracy theory, the etymologies are worthy of Ovid or Stukeley at their most hopeful, and it appears to think Marion Bradley is a primary source; Viviane I of Avallon and her granddaughter Morgaine - give us a break! Read some Ronald Hutton to refresh the palate. Gardner seems to think that a reference in Blake's 'Jerusalem' constitutes evidence.

Excellent buy!
It is definitely an excellent book, which I recommend that you buy. I do not necessarily believe that Jesus had descendents, but a descent from Joseph of Arimathea doesn't seem unlikely. The book is detailed and really explains the argument, showing the true descent of the Royal House of Stewart and of the Merovingians. It is a thought provoking book which must be read!

It is a must buy for any geneaologist!