Według niej, czyli o fikcjonalnej autobiografii Matki Jezusa, pobożnej Żydówki (Na marginesie angielskiego wydania Według niej Macieja Hena)
According to Her: A Fictional Autobiography of the Mother of Jesus by Maciej Hen

Summary/Abstract: The essay titled „According to Her: A Fictional Autobiography of the Mother of Jesus by Maciej Hen” delves into the 2004 novel Według niej... by Maciej Hen and its subsequent translation into English: According to Her (2022). This essay offers an opportunity to explore the conceptual cir- cumstances surrounding the creation of the novel, specifically the resurgence of cultural aware- ness among Polish Jews during the 1990s and the significance of the novel’s scarece discussion within Poland’s religious context two decades ago.At the heart of According to Her lies a monologue delivered by Mariamne, portraying the narrative of Jesus’ mother – a modest and devout Jewish woman endeavoring to comprehend the tumul- tuous events of her time. Set against a backdrop of historical significance, with nearly a century having passed since the fall of Masada, the destruction of the Second Temple, and the fragmen- tation of the Jewish world, Mariamne’s introspections unfold.By affording a marginalized narrator like Mariamne a resounding voice, Maciej Hen’s work takes on a quasi-political dimension. It manifests as a fictitious exploration of the mother of the Chris- tian messiah, conceived by a Jewish author within the framework of Jewish history. This narrative choice underscores the contemporary empowerment of marginalized voices and the spotlight on a feminine perspective. In doing so, Hen’s work highlights the modern potency of narratives centered on the margins, emphasizing the transformative potential of a female-centric viewpoint.

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