THE HARLOT BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with MOSES: A LIFE.]--Two fascinating bestsellers examine Old Testament tales. HARLOT retells seven obscure, lurid biblical stories along with the originals and notes on their context. It recalls the old joke of the street corner entrepreneur selling copies of the Bible with the dirty parts underlined in red. The other volume is misnamed, for, as the author points out, the Good Book doesn't give us a coherent picture of the great prophet. Kirsch tells us what the Bible does say, then continues with the tradition, lore, and speculation that has grown around this seminal figure. His point seems to be that Holy Writ is not what we think it is, but something much richer. Geoffrey Howard reads accurately and a little pretentiously. A more informal approach would have better represented the author's style and intention to make his subject widely accessible. In HARLOT, his voice has been quickened electronically and, consequently, the pitch of it raised. This makes him neither more nor less intelligible, but does tend to enliven his delivery. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/ JAN 02]