Description
Set against the stark backdrop of the crucifixion, this novel follows Barabbas—the man spared when another is condemned—into a life that becomes inseparable from the moral weight of that exchange. As he moves through a world that both forgets and judges, Barabbas is haunted by questions of guilt, justice, and the meaning of innocence, turning survival into a spiritual reckoning rather than a simple escape. With an allegorical intensity and spare, lyrical force, the story explores faith, responsibility, and the unsettling possibility that mercy can demand a price. Pär Lagerkvist’s distinctive, philosophical style—recognized through his Nobel Prize—transforms a familiar biblical moment into a searching meditation on humanity’s capacity for redemption and self-deception.
Available Editions
paperback
Vintage Books
Published Jan 1, 1989
144 pages
ISBN: 9780679725442
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Details
First Published
1800
Language
swe
Translation
From: swe
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for Barabbas by Pär Lagerkvist.