Under Tiberius

“Joyfully irreverent. . . . The philandering, scoundrel version of Jesus is jarring, but . . . engaging as a narrative. . . . will definitely spice up your book club” —GQ

Under Tiberius is a thrilling story of crime and deceit involving the man who came to be called Jesus Christ. Deep in the recesses of the Vatican, Nick Tosches unearths a first-century memoir by Gaius Fulvius Falconius, foremost speechwriter for Emperor Tiberius. The codex is profound, proof of the existence of a Messiah who was anything but the one we've known — a shabby and licentious thief.

After encountering him in the streets of Judea, Gaius becomes spin doctor to Jesus, and the pair schemes to accrue untold riches by convincing the masses that Jesus is the Son of God. As their marriage of truth and lies is consummated, friendship and wary respect develop between these two grifters. Outrageous and disturbing, Under Tiberius is as black as the ravishing night, shot through with fierce and brilliant light.

“Where the . . . author's celebrated nonfiction books shone light into American culture's morally murky depths, the cult favorite's audacious and haunting . . . novel, Under Tiberius, goes even deeper.” —New York Magazine

“Extremely clever, historically sound and, in its strange way, fun.” —The Globe and Mail

“Not since The Last Temptation of Christ (1960) has there been a book with so much potential for offending believers. But there's far more to it than shock value. This is also a meditation on the extraordinary strength of both lies and belief. . . . Disturbing, audacious, and powerful.” —Booklist, starred review

“An unflinchingly blasphemous, mirthfully vulgar, and ultimately brilliant story of Jesus.” —Publishers Weekly