History Literature / TheLettersFromNicodemus

''The letters from Nicodemus'' (''Listy Nikodema'') is one of several novels that Jan Dobraczyński set in [[BibleTimes biblical times]], dealing with "taking up the cross" and what it really means.

The year is [[BibleTimes 3788]], or, as Romans call it, year of the consulship of Piso and Frugi.

One of several novels that Jan Dobraczyński set in [[BibleTimes biblical times]], ''Listy Nikodema'' ("The letters from Nicodemus") deals with "taking up the cross" and what it really means.

* BeenThereShapedHistory: From the very first letter we learn Nicodemus is good friends with Joseph of Arimathea. Then he personally meets John the Baptist, several disciples, and then UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} Himself. He also knows many of the bad guys and is a witness to several miracles, as well as [[TroublingUnchildlikeBehaviour Salome's dance]]. [[spoiler: And owns the house where they had the Last Supper]].

%%* CorruptChurch: The levites and pharisee.

* CrisisOfFaith: Nicodemus, for the entire story. [[spoiler: Solves it in the end]].

* DescriptionPorn: Nicodemus's work is [[MostWritersAreWriters writing parables]]. It shows in the [[PurpleProse sheer purpleness]] of his descriptions.

* HeroicBSOD: Nicodemus is a bit disgusted with himself when his [=BSOD=] after Ruth's death dissolves. He ''thinks he should'' be depressed (a reaction not unheard of in RealLife).

* JesusWasWayCool: Several times (Nicodemus witnesses Him calming the storm). Although - see the [[Literature/TheFourGospels source material page]].

* TwiceToldTale: This is practically a {{Fanfic}} for Literature/TheFourGospels.

Rabbi Nicodemus ben Nicodemus is a wealthy, respected writer of haggadas (parables), who would be perfectly happy with his quiet life and work, if only his beloved [[IllGirl Ruth]] was healthy. Her illness, though, is wearing at them both, as he confesses in [[EpistolaryNovel writing]] to his old teacher, Justus.

* FiveStagesOfGrief: Nicodemus, over [[IllGirl Ruth's illness]] and eventual death - he starts in mild anger, then goes on to try bargaining, until she dies and he slips into black depression. [[spoiler: Then finally finds acceptance and peace in his new faith]].

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* CorruptChurch: The levites and pharisee.
* CreepyChild: Nicodemus finds young Salome weird to the point of scary.

* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler: Joseph of Arimathea]].

* PhilosophicalNovel
* PrettyBoy: John (the Evangelist).

* SwordAndSandal

* WalkOnWater: Nicodemus wasn't there for once, but he was told the story by Judas.

One of several novels that Jan Dobraczyński set in [[BibleTimes biblical times]], '''Listy Nikodema''' (The letters from Nicodemus) deals with "taking up the cross" and what it really means.

* BadassPreacher: How John the Baptist seems (until his imprisonment).
* BeenThereShapedHistory: From the very first letter we learn Nicodemus is good friends with Joseph of Arimathea. Then he personally meets John the Baptist, several disciples, and then UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} Himself. He also knows his share of the bad guys and is witness to several miracles as well as [[CreepyChild Salome's]] [[TroublingUnchildlikeBehaviour dance]]. [[spoiler: And owns the house where they had the Last Supper]].

* TurbulentPriest: John, having fulfilled his path-straightening purpose, goes on to shout at Herod about his incestuous and adulterous relationship. You all know how this ends.

* BeenThereShapedHistory: From the very first letter we learn Nicodemus is good friends with Joseph of Arimathea. Then he personally meets John the Baptist, several disciples, and then {{Jesus}} Himself. He also knows his share of the bad guys and is witness to several miracles as well as [[CreepyChild Salome's]] [[TroublingUnchildlikeBehaviour dance]]. [[spoiler: And owns the house where they had the Last Supper]].

* {{Foreshadowing}}: {{Jesus}} speaks about crosses several times, creeping Nicodemus out.

* GodTest: People keep ''demanding'' miracles from {{Jesus}}, true to the [[Literature/TheFourGospels source material]].

* IShouldHaveBeenBetter: Nicodemus thinks so after Ruth's death, then after {{Jesus}}'s death.

* JesusTheEarlyYears: Nicodemus visits Betlehem to learn about them. First he's told a story blatantly made up for tourists, then the young storyteller gets chastised by an old woman who actually was there at {{Jesus}}'s birth and tells it like it was - Nicodemus for the life of him can't believe in such an ignoble birth of the Messiah.

* KangarooCourt: The only people who speak in {{Jesus}}'s defense are: Joseph of Arimathea (who points out the procedural problems), Nicodemus and a young man who soon afterwards becomes Christian.
* ManlyTears: Nicodemus notes that {{Jesus}} weeps quite often.

One of several novels that [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Dobraczyński Jan Dobraczyński]] set in [[BibleTimes biblical times]], it deals with "taking up cross" and what it really means.

* BeenThereShapedHistory: From the very first letter we learn Nicodemus is good friends with Joseph of Arimathea. Then he personally meets John the Baptist, several disciples, and then {{Jesus}} himself. He also knows his share of the bad guys and is witness to several miracles as well as [[CreepyChild Salome's]] [[TroublingUnchildlikeBehaviour dance]]. [[spoiler: And owns the house where they had the Last Supper]].

* CompositeCharacter: Mary of Bethany somehow got traits of Mary Magdelene. She's also the one to bring the fragrant oils that Judas deemed so wasteful.

* CrisisOfFaith: Nicodemus, over the entire story. [[spoiler: Solves it in the end]].

* FiveStagesOfGrief: Nicodemus, over [[IllGirl Ruth's illness]] and eventual death - he starts in mild anger, then goes on to try bargaining, until she dies and he slips into black depression.

* IncrediblyInconvenientDeity: The general publics' idea of the Messiah is a war leader in shining armour, and they get a former carpenter from Judea who speaks in riddles of varying weirdness. Nicodemus, though, feels there might be some unpleasant duty waiting for him specifically.
* InMysteriousWays: Some people (like Peter) accept this, some (Judas) reject it violently. But this is the entire point.

* RestoredMyFaithInHumanity: Nicodemus starts out somewhat [[TroubledSympatheticBigot bigoted]] (not nearly as bigoted as his colleagues), but in the last letter finally admits that he's came to regard Peter and the other disciples very highly.

* WalkOnWater: Nicodemus wasn't there, but he was told the story by Judas.

* HeroicBSOD: Nicodemus is a bit disgusted with himself when his [=BSOD=] after Ruth's death dissolves. He ''wants'' to be depressed (a reaction not unheard of in RealLife).

* HolierThanThou: In many flavours - Nicodemus himself has increasing doubts, but the[[TheFundamentalist pharisees]] in general are [[CulturalPosturing holier than anyone]].