de book of Joseph, the third book in Mordecai's epic trilogy about the lives of Jesus, his mother, Mary and his foster father, the tekton of Nazareth, is a dazzling retelling in Jamaican Creole of the story of Joseph's early life, his marriage to his first wife, his magical meeting with Mary, and his role in the birth and raising of Jesus. Mordecai employs the demotic to create a cast of spirited characters who surround a down-to-earth Jesus, Mary and Joseph as they contend with the intrigue surrounding Herod's determination to assassinate the infant king of the Jews, the family's escape into Egypt as refugees, and the trials they face on their return. At once humorous and tragic, playful and sober, this luminous tale of how Joseph and his families prevail over life's vicissitudes will reward endless rereading. (From Mawenzi House Publishers)