For the right reader, 'Book of the Shepherd' is a gem
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By A.C. HUTCHISON - Published: November 15, 2009
"The Book of the Shepherd: The Story of One Simple Prayer and How It Changed The World," by Joann Davis (HarperStudio, 2009, $19.99, 183 pages)
Soon it will be the holiday season, a time of the year when most of us will be thinking of gifts – gifts to be given, gifts that might be received – and for a certain type of reader, this small book (it measures a modest 7 inches by 4 inches and can be read in one sitting) may be the ideal Christmas present.
It certainly is unlike almost any other book on most shopping lists. It is not a murder mystery or a courtroom drama; it is not a traditional love story or an analysis of military or financial failures or successes. It is neither an autobiography nor a biography.
It is, in fact, a fable, and while that may limit its appeal, it also may inspire intellectual curiosity, and whether that curiosity is ultimately rewarded will be solely up to each individual reader.
This book is not for everyone. But that doesn't mean it isn't an extremely well-crafted mini-masterpiece.
Like so many fables, this one appeals to our better nature, and while it expresses what are essentially spiritual values, it does so in a strictly nondenominational manner while avoiding the resonant tone of a stern sermon. The centerpiece of the story is a gentle prayer that, as a hymn, is heard in many places of worship and was sung at the funeral of Princess Diana. The hymn is called "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace." Perhaps you know it.
What the author has done is cleverly imagine how this simple prayer – which is known by several different names in contemporary religion – came about. In her fable, she describes how three people, deeply dedicated to the belief that human behavior can be – in fact, must be — harnessed for good and used to overcome evil, set out to find the hidden formula that will reverse those aspects of the prevailing conventional wisdom that too often bring about undesirable results.
The tale takes place in an unidentified land – most readers will surely guess it is in the Middle East – at an unspecified time, although clearly that time was long ago. The central characters are a shepherd, a young woman who had been a slave, and her younger brother, whose mother died in childbirth. They embark on a dangerous search for a "new way" that will guide human behavior and, they hope, eventually put an end to the old ways – an eye for an eye, for example – that bring out the worst in human nature.
Their mission is fraught with risks and challenges to both their courage and character. Lesser individuals would fail, for the obstacles they must overcome are enormous and the pains they suffer would deeply discourage many.
Yet along the way, the three learn valuable lessons from the various individuals and incidents, both good and evil. Among the characters they meet are a storyteller, a blind man, an apothecary (we'd call him a druggist today) and a stranger. Each is the subject of a short chapter, and each provides a valuable lesson to the travelers — and to readers.
The three are searching for what the author calls "The Law of Substitution," for it is designed to replace the "old way" that is so seriously flawed and has caused such widespread misery.
A central tenet of the new belief system is described, colorfully and charmingly, as "reckless generosity." A small example in the fable: A king is persuaded that, rather than attacking his bothersome neighbors, he should shower them with gifts. It works. The king and his neighbors learn to live in peace and mutual respect.
Davis (who is credited not as the author but as the "discoverer" of this story in ancient manuscript form) lives part of the year in Dorset with her husband, the writer Kenneth C. Davis. A former news editor at Publishers Weekly and book editor at several publishing houses, she has written nine books. She's no neophyte when it comes to the book trade. Her literary talents are put to good use in this charming little book.
A.C. Hutchison retired as editor of The Times Argus in 1999.
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