October 10, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS – Historical fascination with women of the Bible has contributed a great wealth of artistic images, literature, legends, fables, and religious poetry to Western traditions. From heroic figures such as Judith and Esther to deep friends like Ruth and Naomi, the Bible presents a plenitude of women whose deeds and desires have inspired Western art and culture for more than two thousand years.

Fortress Press is happy to announce the release of Great Women of the Bible: In Art and Literature-Abridged Edition. Culled from a larger, more expensive volume by the same authors first published by Eerdmans in 1994, this beautiful volume focuses on fifteen biblical characters and gloriously presents not only their stories but also more than 200 art-historical images of them, along with searching commentary by the late theologian Dorothee Soelle and discussion of their post-biblical legacies in art and literature by historian Joe Kirchberger.

The figures discussed include Eve and Lilith, Sarah and Hagar, Tamar, Ruth and Naomi, Abigail, Judith, Esther, the woman who anointed Jesus, Mary of Magdala, Mary and Martha, and many more. This is a beautiful gift book with real substance.

Dorothee Soelle was Professor of Theology at Union Theological Seminary, New York City, for thirteen years. Among her many influential writings are Great Couples of the Bible (2005; 0-8006-3831-X), Theology for Skeptics (1994; 0-8006-2788-1), and The Silent Cry (2001; 0- 8006-3266-4). She died in 2003.

Joe H. Kirchberger is an historian and journalist. He is co-author with Soelle of a book on Mary and editor of a 19-volume set of eyewitness reminiscences of World War I. He lives in New York City.

Great Women of the Bible: In Art and Literature-Abridged Edition, by Dorothee Soelle and Joe H. Kirchberger, Foreword by Herbert Haag, Art Direction by Anne-Marie Schnieper, Format: 8.5" x 11," sewn hardcover with jacket, 192 pages, ISBN: 0-8006-3557-4, Price: $29.00, Publisher: Fortress Press Rights: World English except Canada.

To order Great Women of the Bible please call Fortress Press at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the Web site at http://www.fortresspress.com/.

Fortress Press