The biography of Magdalene is the first to be published for more than a thousand years. This is due to the Church's long silence concerning the saint who became a feminist icon. The book questions ancient prejudices that have condemned women as second-class Christians. It also tells of how Mary Magdalene became one of Jesus' followers – and how she was a direct challenge to the patriarchal society into which Jesus had been born. To Jesus himself, women were persons in their own right, to be treated as equals. However, Thomas asserts that Christians have used Magdalene's early career as a prostitute to exercise control over women throughout the ages.

The closest of Jesus' followers, the name of Mary Magdalene conjures images of a woman both passionate and devoted, both sinner and saint. Speculation, often wild and lurid, about the exact nature of her relationship with Jesus has filled volumes. Detailed research and informed speculation offer a vivid and compelling account of her life. Thomas brings all his writing skill and investigative experience to bear on the gospel narratives, and the archaeology and anthropology of first-century Palestine, in creating this compelling and vivid narrative. Mary's departure from the family home leads her into the even greater subjugation of prostitution. In a position from which no respectable member of society would have anything to do with her, Jesus alone reached out. From that moment, she was numbered among his closest disciples.

The story has also caused a stir in the movie world. German's leading producer/director, Martin Lettmayer has snapped up the film rights for a six-figure sum, said to represent a new record for factual religious publishing. He has ensured that an advance copy is already on the desk of Hollywood star, Patricia Arquette. Lettmayer has plans for a multi-million pound movie with Arquette as the controversial Magdalene as he believes that she has the right look for a Mediterranean working girl of Magdalene's age.

Those involved in the film's production and casting have indicated that they would like to secure Patricia Arquette for the lead role of Mary Magdalene. A budget of £17 million is reputedly being put together to make the film.

"For the first great movie epic of a new millennium I want to show Christians around the world just how this banished Magdalene really was," said Mr. Lettmayer.

States Eunice Irvine of The Methodist Recorder (UK): "Have you, like me, ever wondered about the gaps in the life of Jesus – the missing bits of the Gospel story? One cannot but admire Gordon Thomas who has produced an amazingly detailed novel out of the miniscule amount of direct information on Mary Magdalene available to us.

Gordon Thomas is the author of thirty-eight books. They have achieved total sales of 45 million copies in 36 countries. A number were Main Selections for Book of the Month Club; The Literary Book Club; and the Readers' Digest Book Club. He has received two Mark Twain Society Awards for Reporting Excellence. Seven of his books have been made into major motion pictures, including the five-times Academy Award-winning Voyage of the Damned. Experiences won the Jury's and Critics' prizes at the Monte Carlo Film Festival. His Edgar Allan Poe Award was for Shipwreck. Thomas has just signed a book-into-film contract with IAC International for his David Morton HAMMER FORCE novels that will be released internationally in 2002. Dandelion Books will also publish the HAMMER FORCE novels. Gideon's Spies is in the process of being filmed by Helkon International Media. Gordon Thomas's next book, Mindfield, has already been pre-sold around the world. He lives in Ireland with his wife, an interior designer, and his two children.

The Thirteenth Disciple, by Gordon Thomas
Fiction/Religion
Dandelion Books
ISBN 1893302172 $22.95

Available through www.amazon.com, www.bn.com , www.borders.com, or at your favorite bookstores. Trade sales through Ingram, www.imgram.com

For more information, contact:

Carol Adler
Dandelion Books
480-897-4452
info@dandelionbooks.com
http://http://www.dandelionbooks.com