The Gospel According to the Son

novel by Mailer

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July 18, 2026

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"The Gospel According to the Son" is a 1997 novel by Norman Mailer. It is presented as a first-person memoir purportedly written by Jesus Christ. The novel explores Jesus's life and experiences from his own perspective.

The term "Gospel" itself refers to any of the four biblical narratives detailing the life and death of Jesus Christ, traditionally attributed to Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These accounts, found at the beginning of the New Testament, are derived from the Greek word euangelion, meaning "good news". The first three Gospels are known as the Synoptic Gospels due to their similar treatment of Jesus's life and death.1

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Norman Mailer
…intertwined religion and historical figures: The Gospel According to the Son (1997) is a first-person “memoir” purportedly written by Jesus Christ, and The Castle in the Forest (2007), narrated by a devil, tells the story of Adolf Hitler’s boyhood.
Read More
…intertwined religion and historical figures: The Gospel According to the Son (1997) is a first-person “memoir” purportedly written by Jesus Christ, and The Castle in the Forest (2007), narrated by a devil, tells the story of Adolf Hitler’s boyhood.
Read More