THE NAZARENE GOSPEL; by ROBERT GRAVES and JOSHUA PODRO / Being PART III (text only) / of their Nazarene Gospel Restored

London: Cassell and Company Limited, 1955. First Edition. Cloth. Fine/Near Fine. 8vo, black cloth with gold lettering on spine, Mylar-protected parchment-colored dust jacket (front flap price clipped; rear flap with price not clipped) with red and black lettering, xi, [xii: blank] + 175 pages. RARE title, especially in this EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION. The cloth is tight, clean, and the text is clean--a light tincture of toning--with a NEAR FINE but RARE dust jacket with only a few small nicks at the head of the spine, slight rubbing, and a somewhat faded spine. <br/> <br/> Fascinating summary of what Robert Graves (1895 - 1985)--with the assistance of Josh Podro on Jewish resources--believed Jesus actually said and did--at least according to the primitive Nazarene Gospel, which was mentioned by several early Christian fathers. <br/> <br/> The detailed, exhaustive (and occasionally quite speculative) reconstruction was previously set forth in the author's massive and unabridged Nazarene Gospel Restored (1954). Though poet-classisist Robert Graves occcasionally (often?) becomes too speculative, this controversial volume anticipates conclusions reached much later by Morton Smith and The Jesus' Seminar. <br/> <br/> Graves is well known for his poetry, classical and mythographic studies such as The Greek Myths; the historical fiction such as the novel I, Claudius; and his wild poetic excursion The White Goddess. Less well known Joshua Podro was a journalist and prominent Zionist with expertise in ancient Jewish sources and traditions. He and Graves also coauthored the speculative Jesus in Rome.