Arthur Powers Libri

2012 Tuscany Prize for Catholic Fiction—Novella Winner The Book of Jotham by Arthur Powers. For 23 years the completed manuscript for The Book of Jotham sat in the author’s desk drawer, typed in hard copy form only, collecting dust and time. On September 17, 2012, Arthur Powers scanned the manuscript and sent it in to Tuscany Press. That early autumn night, the publisher sat down in his family room and discovered this compelling and moving book. Jotham is a mentally challenged man-child who, like the other apostles, follows Jesus as Christ carries out his ministry and experiences death by crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Yet the other apostles—the dedicated Mary, Peter, Thomas, and the rest—while they care for Jotham and look out for him, don’t (like so many of us) understand why Jesus loves him so. Thomas even says, after Jesus offers a parable, “I don’t see why all the pots can’t be strong and beautiful.” Jotham may be different, but he—and, through him, we—come to see Jesus not just with our eyes, but also with our heart. Jotham’s experience has the power to rekindle faith even among the most obdurate among us. For Jotham, Abba (Jesus) is light. Through his experience, Christ becomes a true light for all of us.