The Great Lazarus

HOME SCHOOL BOOK REVIEW






Book: The Great Lazarus



Author and Illustrator: Red Skelton



Publisher: Skelton Publications, 1986



ASIN:  B001N2E014



Language level:  3



(1=nothing objectionable; 2=common euphemisms and/or childish slang terms; 3=some cursing and/or profanity; 4=a lot of cursing and/or profanity; 5=obscenity and/or vulgarity)



Recommended reading level: Ages 16 and up



Rating: **** 4 stars



(5 stars=EXCELLENT; 4 stars=GOOD; 3 stars=FAIR; 2 stars=POOR; 1 star=VERY POOR; no stars=NOT RECOMMENDED)



Category: General youth fiction



Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker



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     Skelton, Red.  The Great Lazarus (Published in 1986 by Skelton Publications).  One rather chilly day in April at a carnival in the little town of Greensville, newspaperman Jim Lawson, who narrates the story, meets a performer known as “The Great Lazarus” whose act involves appearing to die on stage.  Local doctors examine him and declare him dead, and then he comes back to life, to thunderous applause. Whether this is real in a magical kind of way or a just a stunt is never explained.  After leaving the carnival, Lazarus becomes a con man who employs this talent in a series of clever scams to steal the jewelry of several rich but wicked women, at least one of whom he marries.  Jim follows his career and keeps in touch.  A finale brings together all of Lazarus’s worst enemies in Paris, France, and he is scheduled to be executed by the French police. 



     What does Lazarus do to earn such a sentence?  Will he somehow be able to escape?  Or does he finally meet his doom?  Growing up, I can remember watching Red Skelton on television as a child. It was one of my favorite shows and often had me rolling on the floor is riotous laughter.  This book is infused with his humor and wit and even has some clever mystery.  There are some cursing and profanity in it, primarily the “h” word and the term “God” used as interjections.   As Jim Lawson pointed out, one does not have to approve of all the things that Lazarus did in order to enjoy the story.  I would suggest it mainly for older teens and adults.