The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve

I can't begin to describe how much I love Greenblatt's books. (I've read this and Swerve, Will in the World is next.) Tracing an idea from its origins—no matter how distant—to its impact on modern thought is, of course, not new. What is exceptional is the clarity with which Greenblatt writes, and his insatiable curiosity and passion for his subjects, both of which are evident in every word. Throw in a natural talent for storytelling and it becomes obvious how Greenblatt hooks his readers (at least this reader). He's generous without being patronizing, informs without pretentiousness, digresses without losing his thread. Rise and Fall is no different. Greenblatt starts in ancient Babylonia with the Jewish exile there, noting how that experience must have impacted the writers of Genesis. He traces the Genesis story from those humble beginnings to Augustine and his insistence on transforming what had largely been considered allegory into a literal interpretation. Eventually we reach Milton and his attempt to shape Adam and Eve into real (almost too real) people of flesh and blood. Finally, we reach the modern day. Along the way, of course, Greenblatt marvels at how the history of Adam and Eve has paralleled the history of our species. Not one for religious dogma, he does not condemn religion or the religious along the way. Instead, his awe for the story told within those opening pages of the Bible is always evident, always kind, always curious. The result is a generous, fascinating read.