The collaboration of Taylor Caldwell and Jess Stearn on their second novel, I, Judas, has resulted in an exceptionally interesting work….

Judas is depicted not as a poor thief, but as the educated son of a wealthy aristocrat. He sacrificed a large inheritance to follow Christ. We learn from Judas' actions that he is somewhat of an elitist, as he speaks of "another bleak Galilean fishing village with country clods in evidence wherever we went," a chauvinist, "for anybody who knows about women recognizes that they are the most devious and self-centered of creatures," but above all, a patriot devoted to freeing Israel from the tyranny of Rome. Caldwell and Stearn portray the character of Judas so effectively that we are forced to consider him as a human being with strengths and frailties, not as the archetypal betrayer.

After we accept Judas's humanity we find that perspective becomes...