Meet Lazarus: hero of the best story ever told about second chances. A novel like no other about a life like no other.
Like most men in their early thirties, Lazarus has plans that don’t involve dying. He is busy organising his sisters, his business and his women. Life is mostly good, until far away in Galilee, without warning, his childhood best friend turns water into wine.
Immediately, Lazarus falls ill. And with each subsequent miracle his health deteriorates: a nasty cough blooms into an alarming panorama of afflictions. His sisters think Jesus can help, but given the history of their friendship Lazarus disagrees. What he is sure of is that he’ll try everything in his power to make himself well. Except for calling on Jesus.
Lazarus dies. Jesus weeps. This part we all know.
But as Lazarus is about to find out, returning from the dead isn't easy. You think you want a second chance at life, but what do you do when you get it? Lazarus has his own story, he is his own man, and he is determined to avoid the mistakes he made the first time round.
A thrillingly inventive, genre-bending novel, Lazarus is Dead is the definitive account of the life, death and life of Lazarus, as never told before.
Richard Beard is the author of four critically acclaimed novels: X20, Damascus, The Cartoonist and Dry Bones, and three works of non-fiction: Muddied Oafs, described by Frank Keating as ‘the book rugby has been waiting for’, How To Beat The Australians and Becoming Drusilla. He is Director of the National Academy of Writing in London.