The Man Born to Be King: A Play-Cycle on the Life of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

by Dorothy L. Sayers, Ann Loades

Overview

In twelve plays for broadcasting at monthly intervals, Dorothy L. Sayers drew on material from all four Gospels, keeping the theme of Jesus of Nazareth's divine kingship in focus throughout, while locating him firmly in the social and political context of his time. The first half cover episodes that precede the final journey to Jerusalem and the latter half primarily deal with Passion Week themes. It is the simplicity and profundity of Jesus' words in the Fourth Gospel especially that Sayers drew on in her own writing for the "voice" of Jesus "on air." The plays gave her an opportunity to explore the many gospel characters surrounding Jesus, not least that of Judas. And beyond the utter sorrow of Jesus' death, the King comes into his own in the garden of resurrection.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781610975490
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	07/20/2011
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	14 Years

About the Author

Dorothy L. Sayers (1893-1957), born and educated in Oxford, was an accomplished novelist, poet, playwright, scholar, and Christian apologist. Along with her religious drama, her numerous writings include translations of Dante, detective stories, theological works, and studies of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

Date of Birth:

June 13, 1893

Date of Death:

December 17, 1957

Place of Birth:

Oxford, England

Education:

B.A., Oxford University, 1915; M.A., B.C.L., 1920

Table of Contents

Dedicatory: The Makers 25

Foreword Dr. J. W. Welch 27

Author's Introduction 35

Production Note Val Gielgud 59

The Man Born to be King

1 Kings in Judaea 61

2 The King's Herald 85

3 A Certain Nobleman 109

4 The Heirs to the Kingdom 129

5 The Bread of Heaven 151

6 The Feast of Tabernacles 175

7 The Light and the Life 199

8 Royal Progress 223

9 The King's Supper 251

10 The Princes of this World 277

11 King of Sorrows 305

12 The King Gomes to His Own 333

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"I am delighted at the long overdue re-publication of Dorothy L. Sayers' religious plays, which will help make these valuable texts available to the current generation. Let us hope that some theatre enthusiasts will be encouraged to re-stage them!"

Suzanne Bray, Lille Catholic University 
 

"As Ann Loades makes clear in her extremely informative introduction, Dorothy L. Sayers' plays are arguably the place where she did her best theological work. The re-publication of these plays makes it possible again for this remarkable writer to have the readers she so richly deserves."

 Stanley Hauerwas, Duke Divinity School

Editorial Reviews

I am delighted at the long overdue re-publication of Dorothy L. Sayers' religious plays, which will help make these valuable texts available to the current generation. Let us hope that some theatre enthusiasts will be encouraged to re-stage them!

Suzanne Bray, Lille Catholic University

As Ann Loades makes clear in her extremely informative introduction, Dorothy L. Sayers' plays are arguably the place where she did her best theological work. The re-publication of these plays makes it possible again for this remarkable writer to have the readers she so richly deserves.

Stanley Hauerwas, Duke Divinity School

From the Publisher