What if Jesus of Nazareth had a sister? And what is she were a bright girl forced by virtue of her gender into a life of servitude? And what if she hooked up with the wrong bloke? Many years ago Leslie Cannold a watched a BBC documentary about Jesus which

Whether you’re religious or not, the life and times of Jesus Christ is a fascinating subject But what if Jesus had sisters, and a feisty, clever, independent younger sister in particular? What would her life have been like? Listen to Jane Caro and Leslie chat about the new novel

Circular Quay on a sunny autumn day is a thing of great beauty. The harbour ripples diamond azure like a silken sheet, framed by icons at every angle. For all the cheesy postcards, the clichés and fatigued promotional footage, on the right day and with the right brain it is

This is, unquestionably, the best book I’ve read in ages. As you, my readers, know, I’ve read a lot of terrific books lately, but The Book of Rachael is splendid. Splendid in its conception, and splendid in its execution, Leslie Cannold’s first novel is an imagined life

Rachael of Nazareth is an extraordinary young woman. She is brave, independent and strong and lives in the world of 30AD. Leslie Cannold’s novel depicts the lives of Rachael and her older brother, Joshua of Nazareth and the contrast of being born male or female. Joshua’s journey begins

Leslie talks to MTR’s Steve Vizzard at 10:30 about *The Book of Rachael * Publication history > The Steve Vizard Morning Show Melbourne AM Radio 1377 MTR 2011-04-07 http://www.mtr1377.com.au/index.php?option=com_homepage&id=50&Itemid=416 [http://www.mtr1377.com.au/

Leslie chats to Kate O'Toole about life, the universe and The Writing of The Book of Rachae [http://cannold.com/articles/article/the-book-of-rachael/]l http://www.abc.net.au/darwin/programs/darwin_guestroom/

Review: The Book of Rachael by Leslie Cannold There are dangers in attempting to fictionalise such a well-loved story as the life of Christ. First, the resulting account might offend. It might collapse into cliché. Or it might be filled with contemporary sensibilities, creating a world too familiar to our

Leslie chats with Michael Zylberman about Atheism, Secularism and The Book of Rachael [http://cannold.com/articles/article/the-book-of-rachael/]

Novelist & journalist Jane Sullivan goes looking for the author The Book of Rachael When Leslie Cannold could find no historical reference to Jesus' sisters, she set about the long, difficult task of creating them in fiction. THE urge to write about Jesus’s sister started to come to

The Canberra Times magazine reviews The Book of Rachael. Publication history > Joys in fresh sweep of faithPanomrama Magazine, Canberra Times 2011-04-02 http://www.austlit.edu.au/run?ex=ShowWork&workId=C%23f{@ [http://www.austlit.edu.au/run?ex=ShowWork&workId=C%23f{@]

The Book of Rachael is set in Israel 2000 years ago. In your Author’s Note you mention that you don’t view the book as historical fiction. Where do you draw the line between fiction and historical accuracy and what historical details were important for you to get right?

Bookseller + Publisher’s intrepid reporter asks Leslie about the novel that imagines the life of Jesus’ youngest sister http://www.fancygoods.com.au/booksellerpublisher-magazine/2011/03/23/interview-leslie-cannold-on-the-book-of-rachael-text/ Publication history > INTERVIEW: Leslie Cannold on ‘The Book of Rachael’ (Text)Bookseller + Publisher Magazine

Hard to score, even harder to score well, the March edition of the influential Australian Booksellers + Publishers gives The Book of Rachael four stars Publication history > Book of RachaelBookseller + Publisher 2011-03-27 http://tinyurl.com/4tvfsop [ http://tinyurl.com/4tvfsop]

Publication history > Book of Rachael in Readings Bookshop St Kilda Unpublished 2011-03-28

Dr Leslie Cannold is an impressive and formidable writer. Her latest offering, The Book of Rachael, her first novel, takes what we think we know and turns it on its head. No surprises there: Cannold is considered one of Australia’s top 20 leading intellectuals. Her life’s work is

They’re rare in Australia, but former minister and Victoria University inaugural vice-chancellor’s fellow Lindsay Tanner names Leslie as one of the new generation of Australian public intellectuals. Publication history > A public role for intellectualsThe Australian 2010-12-08 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/opinion-analysis/a-public-role-for-intellectuals/story-e6frgcko-1225967178615

A 17 year old girl posts nude photos of St Kilda Saints players, and Twitter – including @LeslieCannold [http://twitter.com/lesliecannold] – ask the hard questions. Publication history > Twitter reveals unsettling truths about 'DikiLeaks'National Times 2010-12-28 http://www.nationaltimes.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/twitter-reveals-unsettling-truths-about-dikileaks-20101228-198sr.html

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/celebrating-life-beyond-belief/story-e6frg6z6-1225840634149 [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/celebrating-life-beyond-belief/story-e6frg6z6-1225840634149 ] Publication history > Celebrating life beyond beliefThe Australian 2010-03-15

Despite all their training, ADF soldiers old enough to know better have posted racist and insensitive comments on footage of them in Afghanistan. http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/9070785/aussie-soldiers-in-afghanistan-facebook-gaffe/ Publication history > Aussie soldiers in Afghanistan Facebook gaffe7 News 2011-03-24

The Book of Rachael “captures the imagination” Publication history > Review: Leslie Cannold's The Book of RachaelThe Book Show, ABC Radio National 2011-03-22 http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bookshow/stories/2011/3170282.htm

Or so says The Big Issue. Check out their cover story on The Twitter Revolution Publication history > The Twitter RevolutionThe Big Issue 2011-03-14 http://www.streetnewsservice.org/news/2011/march/feed-273/the-twitter-revolution.aspx

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/memo-mr-baillieu-youre-not-in-favour-of-discrimination-20110226-1b9gc.html Publication history > Memo Mr Baillieu: You're Not in Favour of DiscriminatiThe Sunday Age 2011-02-27

Leslie breaths a sign of relief as her first appearance on Media Watch is for no more serious infraction than a mild case of bleeding heart. For details, you have to download the 21 February 2011 episode. http://feed://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/vodcast/mediawatch_mp4.xml

… and it’s good! From Heather, at Fairfield books on Station. http://fairfieldbooksonstation.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/summer-reading/