Antioch Actress by J. R. Perkins

Antioch Actress

by J. R. Perkins

Peter Hutson, 1946, hardcover, dustjacket

Very Good Condition, a little edge and shelf wear, a little rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, previous owners gift inscription on front endpaper; dustjacket shows some edge and shelf wear with some rubbing, bumping, chipping, tears and small parts missing, some creasing and holes at fold (see photographs)

“Set in the Syrian city of Antioch early in the second century, Antioch Actress exploits powerfully the age old conflict between Church and Theatre.  There could be no peace between the two institutions, for the Church stood for the freedom and sanctity of the individual, form which democracy springs, and already the stage was the mouthpiece of Caesarism, advocating the ruthless suppression essential to military dictatorship. 
At the outset of the story, the Emperor Trajan and his chief general, Fascus, decide to undermine the power of the Syrian Christians by having them ridiculed an burlesqued on the stage.  They chose three theatrical people to go to Antioch and put on the shows.”