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24
Introduction
theancientlbiblicalworldistherelianceofbothonsomeformofthemythof
electionandexemplarity,which,asAnthonySmith,JoCarruthers,AdrianHast-
ingsandotherspointout,isthefundamentalmythofBritishidentity,derived
fromtheBiblebywayofProtestantinterpretation.Asaresultofthiscomplexset
of(ofenparodic)echoesandprolepticresonances,Britaininthetwonovelsis
simultaneouslydiminishedandaggrandized,depictedasweakandaspowerful.
Also,inmakingRomeandUrresembleBritain,thenovelsplaceBritaininwhat
lookslikeagreattranshistoricalcycleinwhichelementsthatatagivenmoment
areemergentorresidualfinallydisplacethosethatarecurrentlydominant,be-
cominganotherversionofthehegemonic.SucharepresentationallowsBurgess
andWintersonnotonlytoexploretheconstraintsofthefoundationalmyths
ofelectionandexemplaritybutalsotoposequestionsaboutthepossibilityof
breakingfromthecircularlogicandfindingsomethingdiferentintheinter-
ruptionofthecycle.
InChapter4,IconcentrateonthreerecentNewTestamentrewritings,which
challengethepopularmythoftheBibleastheculturalpillarofWesternliberal-
ismandtolerance.JimCrace’sQuarantine(1997),PhilipPullman’sTeGoodMan
JesusandtheScoundrelChrist(2010),andNaomiAlderman’sTeLiars’Gospel
(2012)echoandsubvertthewell-establishedperspectiveinBritain,according
towhichtheBibleisadomesticated,“home”text(Sherwood2012:6).Inthis
mythofthehomeBible,Christianscriptureisthesourceofliberaldemocratic
values,associatedwithsecurityandstabilityofthesocio-culturallife,andcor-
relatedwithwhattheBritishbelievetobetheBible-boostedresistanceoftheir
culturetointoleranceandreligion-relatedviolence.Suchperspectivecameinto
fullviewduringtheso-calledRushdieafairof1989,whenanumberofargu-
mentsdefendingRushdie’srighttofreespeechdrewonthedeclareddiference
betweenIslamicandChristianscripturesandontheclaimsaboutthehistoric
alliancebetweenBritishliberalismandtheChristianBible.Ontheonehand,the
threenovelsrewritetheBibleinwaysthatforegroundtheotherwiserepressedor
forgottenfundamentalistandilliberalstreaksoftheBible,and,byexposingthe
manipulativeandideologicalunderpinningsoftheChristianBible,questionthe
mythofthehome,domesticatedBible.Ontheotherhand,Crace,Pullmanand
Aldermanexploretheconsequencesoftheexcessiveinsulationandpurificationof
culture,i.e.oftheexaggeratedwhitewashingofculturalandsociallife,ofpurging
itofanythingpotentiallythreateningandalien.Oneimportantsymptomofsuch
whitewashingisthemythofthehomeBible-abenign,de-alienated,fullysani-
tized“British”(or“our”)text.Relyingontheso-called“immuno-philosophers”
(RobertoEsposito,JacquesDerrida,JeanBaudrillard,PeterSloterdijk)andtheir
recenttheoriesoftheimmunitarylogicvisibleinculture,Iclaimthatthethree
novelsrewritetheBibletoexploreandcontrasttwodiferentmodesofcultural
immunity,i.e.twodiferentunderstandingsoftheneedtoprotectandsecure
thewell-beingofindividualsandcommunities.Onemodeisrootedintheidea
