Rating: 
Summary: not Graves' best, but still worth a read
Review: My reaction to Graves' KJ was different from reading I, Claudius. Maybe it's because I'm more familiar with the Gospels and so another version of events colored my own response. Perhaps it's because the telling was not as lively and personal as I Claudius. Still it is good to read this book and to get more information about the politics during the time of Jesus - as well as an understanding of the Jews and their politics and their expectations of the Messiah.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest story ever told, retold
Review: Readers already familiar with Graves know that he brings a unique blend of scholarship, wit, literary talent, and profound sympathy to whatever subject matter he addresses himself. As in "I Claudius," Graves is superbly deft at breathing life into the arcane, alien traditions and source materials that have come down to us from that time. Though best known as a classicist, Graves uses the story of Jesus to explore the themes and symbols of Judeo-Christian mythology. Characters familiar from "Claudius" appear in this tale as well (Augustus, Livia, Herod the Great), and through skilful manipulation of plot and dialogue Graves depicts Jewish tradition in a context of the mythical corpus prevalent at the time and known from Europe's Atlantic seabord to the fringes of India.Ever the independent thinker, Graves never shied away from controversy, and true to form he offers up an alternative, historically plausible view of Jesus' early life at odds with the official version that has come down to us. Whatever the shortcomings of his efforts, Graves has at least concocted a story that is consistent with our knowledge of society and theology of the time and actually explains elements of the tradition that otherwise defy logic. In fact, Graves is able to use this novel intelligently to explore and explain issues surrounding authorship, religious politics, and redaction in the Scriptures--normally the exclusive province of turgid academia--all in highly readable and readily understood style. It is a testament to his skill as an author and to his deeply humane worldview that Graves is able to challenge our distorted and obfuscated beliefs about Jesus even as he pays respect to the Master and reaffirms the significance of His ministry. Highly recommended to atheists, agnostics, and apostles alike.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest story ever told, retold
Review: Readers already familiar with Graves know that he brings a unique blend of scholarship, wit, literary talent, and profound sympathy to whatever subject matter he addresses himself. As in "I Claudius," Graves is superbly deft at breathing life into the arcane, alien traditions and source materials that have come down to us from that time. Though best known as a classicist, Graves uses the story of Jesus to explore the themes and symbols of Judeo-Christian mythology. Characters familiar from "Claudius" appear in this tale as well (Augustus, Livia, Herod the Great), and through skilful manipulation of plot and dialogue Graves depicts Jewish tradition in a context of the mythical corpus prevalent at the time and known from Europe's Atlantic seabord to the fringes of India. Ever the independent thinker, Graves never shied away from controversy, and true to form he offers up an alternative, historically plausible view of Jesus' early life at odds with the official version that has come down to us. Whatever the shortcomings of his efforts, Graves has at least concocted a story that is consistent with our knowledge of society and theology of the time and actually explains elements of the tradition that otherwise defy logic. In fact, Graves is able to use this novel intelligently to explore and explain issues surrounding authorship, religious politics, and redaction in the Scriptures--normally the exclusive province of turgid academia--all in highly readable and readily understood style. It is a testament to his skill as an author and to his deeply humane worldview that Graves is able to challenge our distorted and obfuscated beliefs about Jesus even as he pays respect to the Master and reaffirms the significance of His ministry. Highly recommended to atheists, agnostics, and apostles alike.
Rating: 
Summary: The most fascinating Jesus novel out there
Review: Reading this book is a rewarding challenge. It's weird, esoteric, and somehow simultaneously iconoclastic and reverent. As is often the case with Graves, it's clear that he's done a lot of serious research, and from there has gone off on his own curious tangents. (It looks like he got some material from Robert Eisler's book from the '20s, "The Messiah Jesus and John the Baptist"). Graves's methods drive some scholars crazy, because they want a clear line drawn between the research and the tangents. "King Jesus" is clearly more propaganda for Graves's "White Goddess" theology, but as propaganda it's great fun. Indulge Graves early on in the book--material that may seem pointless eventually does inform what follows. With few exceptions, the book is sympathetic to Judaism, but the exceptions should not be read as anti-Semitism; rather, the reader should recognize that Graves is equally discriminatory towards all religions where they don't gibe with his White Goddess-ism.
Rating:
Summary: An intriguing hypothesis
Review: Robert Graves provides an intriguing hypothesis about the background of Jesus. In order not to spoil the suspense, I will refrain from stating the core hypostheis. But he has provided a very interesting historical backdrop to make his idea plausible. It is a very interesting book to read.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderfully fun "read"
Review: Robert Graves' writings are all fascinating, but this one is unique. You do not have to be a biblical scholar or history fan to enjoy this presentation of Mr. Graves' ideas. Well researched and provacative - not for the easily offended. Read it and form YOUR opinion!
Rating: 
Summary: An Amusing Feminist Slant on the Origin of Christianity
Review: Take any of his published works and there is no doubt that Robert Graves is a thorough scholar. King Jesus is unusual in that it is a novel filled with scholarly references from the canonical books of the Bible, Gnostic gospels, Apocryphia and Semitic mythology that tries to convince the reader of Grave's view of the significant relevance of the Triple Goddess mystery religion in the culture of ancient Israel. Following the theme set out in his work White Goddess, Graves retells the story of the gospel(s) with more than a little literary license I found both fun and interesting. It turns out that Christ's message was completely misinterpreted. And yet, in the end, Christ won in the sense that were it not for his death and resurrection and the subsequent growing popularity of his cult, we might be going to the sacred grove on Sundays to worship the Goddess instead of Church to worship the God. Despite some insightful gems such as "The Three Marys" -- WOW! I never realized the connection before! -- overall his thesis doesn't seem very convincing. Anyone who has read the Bible and standard Apocryphia cover to cover can see that there were clearly defined messages for both the Old and New Testaments that had nothing even remotely to do with Goddess worship. Moreover, his argument for a more prominent role of a matri-centric mystery cult in the patriarchal dominated culture of ancient Israel is very weak. Graves confuses the dualistic concepts of the Gnostics with Christ's goal of destroying the supposed feminine influence in Judaism. Still, it was a fun read if you don't take it too seriously
Rating:
Summary: Research, research, research.
Review: The thesis of the book is really brilliant. How would an historian in the first centuries of the first millenium view the life of Jesus, the so called "King Of The Jews"? The act of imagination that Graves has taken is breath taking. He fleshes out most of the gaps and mysteries surrounding the Gospels, without attacking or defending Christianity. The book could have been a cringe inducing "Da Vinci Code" but it is a great example of the historical novel.
Rating:
Summary: Research, research, research.
Review: The thesis of the book is really brilliant. How would an historian in the first centuries of the first millenium view the life of Jesus, the so called "King Of The Jews"? The act of imagination that Graves has taken is breath taking. He fleshes out most of the gaps and mysteries surrounding the Gospels, without attacking or defending Christianity. The book could have been a cringe inducing "Da Vinci Code" but it is a great example of the historical novel.
Rating: 
Summary: A Blasphemous Misrepresentation of Truth and History
Review: There is very little that is truthful, historical, or virtuous about this book. Robert Graves was a Liberal and Atheistic classicist who wanted to give his own perverse, ungodly, and blasphemous misrepresentation of the life of Jesus Christ. This work is nothing but a tool of the Devil to deceive the ignorant and those sophisticated reprobates who are "ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." Sadly, Graves is now suffering the vengeance of God's wrath in hell for his unbelief and blasphemy. Others who believe his lies, as well as those Liberal cult followers of the Da Vinci Code, will likewise fall into the same ditch. Readers beware!!!
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