Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Secret Magdalene

Rate this book
Raised like sisters, Mariamne and Salome are indulged with riches, position, and learning-a rare thing for females in Jerusalem. But Mariamne has a further gift: an illness has left her with visions; she has the power of prophecy. It is her prophesying that drives the two girls to flee to Egypt, where they study philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy in the Great Library of Alexandria.

After seven years they return to a Judaea where many now believe John the Baptizer is the messiah. Salome too begins to believe, but Mariamne, now called Magdalene, is drawn to his cousin, Yeshu’a, a man touched by the divine in the same way she was during her days of illness. Together they speak of sharing their direct experience of God; but Yeshu’a unexpectedly gains a reputation as a healer, and as the ill and the troubled flock to him, he and Magdalene are forced to make a terrible decision.

This radical retelling of the greatest story ever told brings Mary Magdalene to life-not as a prostitute or demon-possessed-but as an educated woman who was truly the “apostle to the apostles.”

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Ki Longfellow

17 books1,262 followers
Ki Longfellow, born on Staten Island, New York, to a French-Irish mother and an Iroquois father, grew up in Hawaii and Marin County, California, but ended up living in France and England for many years. She is the widow of a British national treasure, the complete artist Vivian Stanshall.

In England, she created and sailed the Thekla, a 180 foot Baltic Trader, to the port of Bristol where it became the Old Profanity Showboat. It remains there today as a Bristol landmark. On it, she and Vivian wrote and staged a unique musical for the sheer joy of it. "Stinkfoot, a Comic Opera," garnered a host of delighted, if slightly puzzled, national reviews.

Her first book, "China Blues," was the subject of a bidding war. "China Blues," and her second novel, "Chasing Women," introduced Longfellow to Hollywood... a long hard but ultimately fascinating trip. ("China Blues" was reissued by Eio Books in 2012.)

When Vivian died in 1995, Ki stopped writing, living on Standing Room Only Farm in Vermont. Time may not heal, but it tempers. Eventually Ki began writing again, but her subject became the moment at age 19 that informed her life... a direct experience with the Divine. She chose the figure of Mary Magdalene to tell that tale in her novel "The Secret Magdalene." Nancy Savoca, a brilliant independent film maker (winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize with her first film, "True Love") traveled all the way to Vermont to option the book as her next film.

Ki's second book on the Divine Feminine is "Flow Down Like Silver," a novel about the numinous and gifted Hypatia of Alexandria, a tragically ignored historical figure of towering intellect who searched through intellect for what the Magdalene knew in her heart.

In a huge departure from her all she'd written before, Longfellow found herself weaving a tale of supernatural horror called "Houdini Heart." This book was selected by the Horror Writers of America as one of a handful of books to be considered for their 2011 Bram Stoker Award for Best Horror Novel.

In the Spring of 2013 the first three titles of her Sam Russo noir murder mystery series was published by Eio Books: "Shadow Roll," "Good Dog, Bad Dog," and "The Girl in the Next Room." There is a fourth title "Dead on the Rocks" available and there may be more. Or maybe not.

In December, 2013, she released a tale of one woman's attempt to survive lost in the Sonoran Desert: "Walks Away Woman."

She’s at work on the third and last book in her Divine Feminine series. Meant to be one thing, it's become quite another thing. Writers may think they know what they're going to write, but they can be very wrong. This book is "The White Bee".

In late January of 2018 she published the art book, biography, and memoir she'd promised Vivian Stanshall she would one day write for him: "The Illustrated Vivian Stanshall, a Fairytale of Grimm Art".

in the early months of 2018 three more of her books were optioned for Hollywood, one as a high end television mini-series and two as films.

She lives wherever she finds herself. Currently that’s between Somerset, England and Olympia, Washington.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
2,490 (53%)
4 stars
1,021 (22%)
3 stars
635 (13%)
2 stars
273 (5%)
1 star
202 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 505 reviews
Profile Image for Alejandro.
1,183 reviews3,680 followers
October 20, 2014
Mariamne. Queen Bee. John the Less. Magdal-eder.
Daughter. Prophet. Student. Apostle.
Woman. Man. Heart. Rock.
Beloved.


Many names, many roles, many titles.

Only one human being.

Mary Madgalene

This book is wonderful, and I am so glad of being able to read it. I am always being a "fan" of Mary Magdalene, and here I was able to read the story that I want to read about her life. Definitely it's now one of my favorite books.

I am not saying that this is the truth. However, if you really believe that Mary Magdalene was only a whore, well, only I can say that you are as blind as the men at the time when she lived.

Beautiful story of the life of the one known as Mary Magdalene since her early age of 14 years old, until the end of days of Jesus and beyond.

If you don't feel thrilled just reading of Mary Magdalene stepping into the Great Library of Alexandria, well, maybe this isn't the book for you. For me, that was one of the best moments in literature that I ever read.

Formidable tale of the journey in life of Mary Magdalene which it was fated to cross with the path of Jesus.

If you look an exact script taken from the Bible, maybe you have to read the Bible then, and don't get me wrong, I am Catholic and I respect the Bible, but if you are a little open minded, I am sure that you will enjoy this book.

This isn't about truth. There are many truths. The important thing in a story is the message. And the message here is glorious.

Men and women will forever make gods of others rather than see the god in themselves.
1 review4 followers
March 9, 2008
I'm not a Christian so I had no idea as I began this book what I "ought" to think about it. I read it because of its reviews and I am so glad I did. It probably seems to be all about the Bible and Christianity and religion, but it isn't. It's about the teachings of real mystics, people who have transcended this world we think so important and so real, and causes us so much pain. It's about what Jesus Christ probably really taught, and you won't find much of that in your Bible. But for me, it's about a woman who stood behind Jesus, who taught him and inspired him and knew what he knew, only she understood it better. In this book Mary Magdalene is not his wife or his disciple, though she learns from him as he learns from her, she's a philosopher and a teacher and a fully realized human being. As for the writing, well, I can happily lose myself in Moby Dick and Crime and Punishment and The Magic Mountain so I found the language ravishing. It's the kind of language appropriate to such people, rather like the King James version of the Bible. It was poetry and yet full of real life and humor (MM is funny! and so is Jesus!). Anyone who could give a book that's sure to become a classic one star has to be reflecting their own strongly held religious beliefs, not the quality of this book. This book is art. And it could clear away all those cobwebs and half-truths we struggle with in one read. More than one read will do a lot more than that. Recommend this book? I urge you to read it. It's transforming. Oh, and one other thing, it's a great read. Lots of story and action and surprises.
1 review2 followers
March 31, 2008
To tackle this particular story takes chutzpah. But there's so much more to this book than a completely compelling reworking of what the writers of the gospels retold so long ago. There's the missing historical background the Bible doesn't give you, and the depth of the philosophical sources (Hellenistic, Persian, Gnostic) that went into Christianity at the very beginning, and then there's the incredible understanding of what Jesus was trying to teach us. Plus, it's all done in story, no preaching, no agenda, just you walking along with the Magdalene and Jesus, learning as they learn. Was I impressed? I don't think I've ever been so impressed.
April 7, 2008
The best. Finished it a week ago and it stays in my head so I find myself mulling over everything. If this keeps happening, I'll have to read it again sooner than I expected to. A wondrous work of beauty. Not religious. Not preachy. Not new age. A novel of huge importance.
19 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2008
Liberates the woman Mary Magdalene, gives her the history, wisdom, and power we wish she might have had. I delighted in the rich and beautiful esoteric presentation of Christ and his teachings. This is a love story on several levels; there is the love of wisdom (present in the philosophy woven throughout the entire book), the love held especially for a man (in its most devoted form), and love for the divine (in essence, the purest love of all.)
I've reread this twice and will read it again. I don't hesitate to say this may be one of my most favorite stories.
Definately worth the read.
Profile Image for Darrick.
183 reviews
January 24, 2008
Tough one to review. A little slow in spots but so interesting. This is basically the philosophy of Jesus Christ and his rise to being the messiah. This story certainly differs from the gospels. A.) it's told from a woman's perspective and B.) the God, Man, Son relationship is very philosophical! C.)If you believe in everything the gospels say then read this as fiction, which is what it's labeled as anyways.
April 24, 2008
This book could open your mind.  This book is not Christian.  It's not Jewish.  It's not Gnosticism, although it's about Gnosis which is the Greek word for what we think of as enlightenment.  This book, if you don't care about any of that, is a great read written really well.  It could have happened in this extremely clever well-researched way.  But it doesn't matter if it did or it did not.  It left me breathless and so hungry for more.  I hope Longfellow is planning on more.
1 review
March 10, 2008
Mark my words, a classic in the making. Read it! What an adventure of mind, body and spirit. Laughed sometimes, and cried my heart out twice. Left with the need to read it again.
1 review
June 28, 2008
For my money, this ought to be an award-winning book. It ought to chosen by Oprah so all sorts of people who would love it would find it. It's phenomenal. The characters, the philosophy, the theology, the setting, the historical insight, the WRITING! To walk with Jesus and the Magdalene and to feel them for the first time as people struggling with their times and their place in that time, to meet them in all their pain and sorrow and joy...what a trip, man!
June 9, 2008
Would love to have time to review all I bother to read, but so busy and so tired. But this time, just wanted to say a few words. From 1 to 10 I'd give this a 10+. It was incredibly wise and wonderful.
Profile Image for Doug Wells.
887 reviews13 followers
June 6, 2008
This is a great book! OK, I'm a bit of a freak for ancient cultures, religion, and the like - but it's excellent. A bit along the lines of The Red Tent - follow Mary Magdalene during the times of Jesus.
1 review
August 6, 2008
I am a healer. This is the only novel I can think of that could heal if the reader so wished. The spiritual teachings here are profound.
Profile Image for Monica Robbins.
19 reviews1 follower
July 23, 2008
one of my favorite reads this year. it is a well written and new version/take on the story of jesus and mary magdalene. refreshing, actually. you might say a more "enlightened " version. comes with a recomendation if you a) enjoy novels & b) are open to versions of jesus outside of the bible.

it is truly an amazing book.
April 1, 2009
I read this because of its ratings here and on amazon and blogs, and I have to say, what a surprise. This isn't my usual book, or so I thought. But it turns out I don't have a usual book, just those that keep me turning the pages, excited and involved. What's going to happen next? How did this writer learn all this stuff? How long did she have to research? Has anyone read the selected bibliography at the back of the book? Damn. I am so impressed. And then to read what she's made of all those books. Cutting through all the complexities so-called scholars make of things, ignoring those who take everything literally, soaring into realms of brilliant idea. Okay, I'm might be going on a little here, but this was some book. Someone here said it read like "some teenager" wrote it. Are they kidding? I'd like to meet that teenager. Teenagers can barely talk, much less conceive of the ideas presented in this book. As for the story, it's a mindblower. Taking that old Biblical mess, four gospels, four different stories, and coming up with one coherent heart-wrenching tale of people on the spiritual edge in the middle of a world gone mad with ideology and Roman domination. Shades of what is happening right now in the very same spot on earth. What's with the so-called Holy Land? It produces such crazed ugliness and then, once in a while, the sublime. I think this book is sublime.
3 reviews
September 29, 2008
I finished the whole book, and then began again to savor not only the story and the wonderful writing, but the lessons to be found here. As a lapsed Catholic, I lost my feeling for such things. But in this book I found it all again. I don't know if it's true, but if this book is read by only religious people or by seekers of spiritual wisdom, that's a loss to readers looking for fully realized characters and great tragedy and exciting adventure. The grounding of the book in real history, and actual philosophy is another of its wonders. Ridiculous? I find it ridiculous for someone to call a book, almost any book ridiculous after only three chapters. There are classics I fought my way into only to find that my persistence paid off enormously.
4 reviews
January 15, 2009
It's been some time since I read this book, but I picked it up again the other day and this time I like it better than I did before. I liked it a great deal on the first read, but now I love it. I've done a little research about the period since and I find the more the reader knows, the more you discover this book knows. Most of the time you reread a book to revisit how it made you feel. And this is true of this book. But you also reread this book to find another layer and another layer of profound meaning. This will probably become an annual read, especially when life gets complex and confusing and I need a good cry as well as a sense of revelation.
Profile Image for Christine.
10 reviews6 followers
January 19, 2009
If you would like to read a different interpretation of the story of Mary Magdalene's life and the life of Jesus (Yeshua) then this is a must read. The historic research that Ki Longfellow has done must have taken a lifetime, and the story sounds entirely possible, perhaps probable. It drags in some places, but there are also parts that sound so true that they gave me goosebumps. Longfellow includes insights into the hidden truths that run throughout all religions and spiritual paths and sound as though they were channeled directly from the Spiritual Masters.
March 26, 2009
I could be wrong but I can only think any one or two star ratings come from offending the reader's beliefs. I can't think it has anything to do with the book itself. The story is thrilling and page turning, the character fully real and human, the events can break your heart, and the the writing is fluid and poetic. Not difficult at all unless you like your reading so easy you never have to pause for any sort of thought. This is a book for lovers of literature, writing, and profound spiritual truths. All my thumbs up,
6 reviews
December 27, 2008
A mind bending life-changer. This one may not sell like Dan Brown, but it will be around longer. Beautiful language, profound thoughts, thrilling adventure, and intriguing answers to ultimate questions. How much more could a book offer?
6 reviews
February 14, 2009
No point in detailing the plot. Every point in speaking of the effect this book had on me. Things that confused me, seem cleared up. The path I've been seeking seems straight before me. And a bonus, this book is beautifully written, amazingly imagined, and speaks from a mystics understand. I was, and am, in love with it. More, please more, from this author
1 review
March 30, 2009
I've spent years trying to make heads or tails of humanity's need to create religions. I've shaken my head at the childish concepts they come up with to make themselves feel better and a class called "priests" richer and more powerful. I've wondered how people could allow their own minds to be controlled by the minds of, sometimes, lesser men (or women.) This book has been like standing under a waterfall of reason and understanding. Not only is the story an adventure from beginning to end, written magnificently,but it is stuffed with profound ideas. I know, to some, the idea of a book being more than a day at the beach is a turn-off, but this one not only an exciting read about what we think we know (and don't...and neither do most theologians) it has the makings of a classic, a book for the ages. I am proud to include it here. If my internet were so slow, I'd add more books. But at least I got this through. The best.
1 review
February 27, 2009
This is become my favorite book. I've read all my life. I think of myself as a discerning reader. All the classics: English, Russian, German, French, American...and more and more. And some of these books have never left me. This is going to be one of them. I notice it's not on any bestseller list and it's not not mentioned by the professionals as brilliant, and yet it's the most brilliant thing I've read in years. It has it all: great writing, a great idea, profound research, profound ideas, and a compelling storyline that takes you on an alternate journey through a story you think you know. Mary Magdalene here is not a whore or a penitent sinner. She's wise and funny and vulnerable. And she's not regulated to the carrier of Christ's child. I was stunned. Several times I wanted to shout: YES! I'VE THOUGHT THAT! A revelation and a keeper.
April 3, 2009
As a German and a lover of German literature, I do make an effort to find the best from elsewhere. This book I would count as one of the best. I now await more from this writer. I have looked and this seems to be the first in a trilogy? I think this is so. The second book is also at heart a search for meaning but is about Hypatia of Alexandria. I say that I champ at the bit.
April 4, 2009
A book to read and read again, to savor and thrill to and learn from. A book to cry over and gnaw off your fingernails too. In short a great read. It also, without trying, teaches you all that stuff other books preach about in the most intriguing and involving way.
2 reviews
March 17, 2009
Best book I've read in ages. It has everything. Getting everyone I know to read it.
Profile Image for Ed.
14 reviews4 followers
December 25, 2009
Not often am I scribbling so frequently in books as I have done in this extraordinary novel. Once again I’ve read a pure five-star-book! What makes this story so special, apart from the beautiful language, the realistic imagination of the society as it may have been around the beginning of our era and the deeply philosophical allure, is the interpretation Ki Longfellow gives of the events. Yeshu is a human being: “nothing so whimsical and so impractical as a god, and nothing so arbitrary and so transitory as a king, but a great heart standing on the edge of the world teaching us all to soar by teaching himself (p.1).”

He has an overwhelming need to share his Gnostic insight with all men and women: “He is suffused with the need to show others what he has seen, to have others know what it is he knows. By this he believes their suffering will end; for by this, they will see themselves free. And not merely from the yoke of the Romans, or the despair of their secret hearts, but from Yahweh and his Laws.” (p.193)
This insight is worded like this (p. 352): “God is not a being outside the Self, nor has it gender, nor is it burdened with a desire to find fault, or to test, or a need to command obedience. God is Consciousness – which is All There Is.”

This telling by Ki Longfellow is chock-full with ‘explanations’ of what writers throughout history have been saying about the Bible. For instance: John the Less – one of the disciples – and Mariamne Magdal-Eder are one and the same. This is made absolutely plausible in the novel. One explanation is even more ingenious than the other, like the origin of many of Jezus’ famous words. The same thing goes for the many ‘wonders’ he is said to have performed. Like the crippled blind man. Jezus gave him back sight, but not the actual sight of his blind eyes, but something else: “There are some things that cannot be undone (…) but there is this thing that can be done, and it is greater than eyes that see. I can give him the sight that is within him.” (p.241) Very Gnostic and very clear. Find the God within yourselve.

I underlined too much to mention here. Just a few that are gnosis-related.

“He who presumes to know aught for certain knows nothing. And he who presumes to know nothing, stands at the brink of gnosis.’ (p.29)

From the words of one of the wisest characters of the book, Seth (of Damascus), Mariamne gains insight:
“I understand this. God is not a seperate being called Yahweh or even a godman called Osiris, or Dionysus, or Mithras, or Buddha. God is One, meaning God is All. Therefore, All is God. We are all in and of the Mind of God. We are the Mind of God.” (p.105)
There is so much truth and understanding in many of the words Longfellows puts in Yeshu’s mouth. The whole concept of the ‘Father’ for instance is filled to the brim with knowing:
“He showed me that I am this as much as he is this. That I am God as he is God. He showed me that I AM. He told me my name and my name is Man and my name is Woman and I am All That Is.” (p. 180/181)

In the end a very sad fact: “Men and women will forever make gods of others rather than see the god in themselves.” (426)

Where ‘The God Delusion’ of Richard Dawkins is a raw and rather single-minded way of attacking monotheism, ‘The Secret Magdalene’ is a multi-layered, poetic and wise way to create understanding about the same matter.

Hail to this novel and hail to its creator!
Profile Image for Bgordonsgirl.
58 reviews
August 17, 2008
A very interesting book. Part fiction, part fact, I suspect, it gives one a great deal to think about.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 505 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.