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Christian Art: A Very Short Introduction explores the work of major artists such as Memling, Holbein, El Greco, and Rossetti, and well-known examples including the frescoes of St Francis at Assisi. How do didactic and consciously devotional works compare with the controversial work of contemporary artists such as Andres Serrano and Chris Ofili? Christian images have a long history within the Western art tradition, from the narrative and devotional works of the Medieval and Renaissance periods, to the radical new interpretations of the twenty-first century. Over the centuries the nature of the representation of key themes and subjects found in Christian art such as the Eucharist, the crucifixion, the Virgin Mary, and the saints has changed considerably.Less

The Hebrew Bible, or Christian Old Testament, can be celebrated as among the classics of world literature. The stories of Jacob and David present the earliest surviving examples of literary characters whose development the reader follows over the length of a lifetime. There are also examples of lyric poetry, from the praise and lament of the Psalms to the double entendres in the love of poetry of the Song of Songs. The Hebrew Bible as Literature: A Very Short Introduction describes the Bible’s two primary literary modes—narrative and poetry—foregrounding the nuances of plot, character, metaphor, structure and design, and intertextual allusions.Less

The New Testament as Literature: A Very Short Introduction uses a literary framework — plot, character, narrative, and genre — to illuminate the language, structure, and crafting of this religious text. The words, phrases, and stories of the New Testament permeate the English language. The major sections of the New Testament — the gospels, Paul's letters, and Revelation — can be seen as individual literary works. In familiar stories such as the parable of the Good Samaritan, a literary analysis can uncover an unexpected complexity to what seems a simple, straightforward tale. Whether read as a single document or as a collection of works, the New Testament presents readers with a variety of forms and viewpoints; literary exploration helps bring this richness to light.Less