The Spear: A Novel of the Crucifixion

Written by Louis De Wohl

Narrated by Richard Ferrone

Louis de Wohl was a distinguished and internationally respected Catholic author whose books on saints remain bestsellers around the world to this day. A panoramic historical novel of the last days of Jesus Christ, The Spear tells the full story of all the participants involved in the dramatic execution, including the seldom remembered Roman soldier who thrust his spear into Christ as he hung on the Cross. With a dramatic narration by Richard Ferrone, The Spear is a must listen for anyone interested in the history of the New Testament.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490694580

Louis De Wohl

Louis de Wohl was a highly acclaimed novelist who wrote numerous best selling historical novels on lives of the saints, many being made into films. Sixteen of his books were made into films. Pope John XXIII conferred on him the title of Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great.His works include Lay Siege to Heaven, Set All Afire, Citadel of God, The Spear, Joyful Beggar, The Quiet Light,and more.

Reviews for The Spear

[janerawoof · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A thoughtful fictionalization of the life of Cassius Longinus, the centurion who thrust his spear into Christ's side at the Crucifixion and Cassius's secular and spiritual journey. In Rome, Cassius sells himself into slavery and becomes a gladiator, in order to save his father from prison. Because of his prowess in the arena, he is freed and enters the army, travelling to Judaea with Pilate and his wife Claudia, with whom the young man is infatuated. We meet figures of the Gospels: Bar Abbas and his circle of rebels, Martha, Mary and Lazarus of Bethany, the Virgin Mary, the various Jewish priests, Pharisees and Sanhedrin and various Roman soldiers, including the wise old Primus Pilus, Abenadar. And we meet Cassius's lady love, Naomi. [He has outgrown his infatuation for Claudia.] The Passion and Resurrection play out and we follow his spiritual crisis and its resolution. Most characters but Cassius, Claudia, and Abenadar seemed bloodless to me. Cassius was the strongest; I got into his head and thoughts. It seemed to me that Naomi turned too quickly from her secular love [Cassius] to absolute devotion to Christ. I think maybe she should have had some kind of spiritual crisis herself. Although 60 years old, this novel has held up well. There were a few minor factual errors but they didn't interrupt the story and the point the author was trying to make. I can see why it is a classic in its genre.Highly recommended.

[laudemgloriae · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very intriguing novel about one of my favorite saints, Saint Longinus. De Wohl creates a story about the last days of Christ, intricately weaving it with the life of the Roman centurion who would pierce His side to prove his death, and in fact is converted.