Anna and the Angel

Author Eleanor Williams
Publisher Authentic Media £7.99
Format Parthian £10 pbk
ISBN 9781917140140

This is a delightful and original retelling of the apocryphal book of Tobit, vigorously reimagined and transported from the time of Israel’s exile in Assyria to contemporary south Wales. In the original, the focus is on Tobit himself, recently blind and dreadfully depressed, on Tobias his only son, and on Raphael (known as Azariah), the benign, heroic guardian angel. Tobias marries Sarah, a distant relative and, through prayer and obedience, family fortunes are restored, and Tobit is healed. In this retelling, the narrative is imaginatively given to Anna and Edna, the mothers of Tobias and Sarah, who correspond by email as the remarkable adventure unfolds. This allows the innermost feelings and concerns of two women who are mentioned in the biblical text, but who are otherwise peripheral to the original narrative, to be explored and celebrated. There is an enchanting freshness to the text which encourages the reader to recognise the hidden hand of God in guiding our lives. I certainly recommend Anna and the Angel, but I suggest it could be helpful to revisit the often-neglected book of Tobit first.

Reviewed by KATE BURTON

Apocrypha, novel