The Messiah of Morris Avenue A Novel [Paperback]

The acclaimed satirist and bestselling author ofFather Joeposes the question, would we recognize the messiah if he appeared today? and delivers, in the words of Frank McCourt, just what the country needs now--a good dose of merriment in the face of crawthumping righteousness.

In the not so distant future of Tony Hendra's novel, the tide of righteousness--in the form of executions, barking evangelists, tank-like SUVs, and a movie industry run entirely by the Christian right--has swept the nation. Aside from the non-white, the non-Christian, and the non-wealthy, all are believers. Among the skeptics is a washed-up journalist named Johnny Greco, who hears of a media-shy young man known as Jay roaming through ghettos, healing the sick, and tossing off miracles. Soft-spoken and shabbily dressed, Jay is an unlikely savior for this antsy and intolerant America. But as he makes his rounds, gathers followers, and makes furious enemies among the righteous powers that be, Johnny finds it harder and harder to doubt him.

Tony Hendrawas editor in chief ofSpy,an original editor ofNational Lampoon,and played Ian Faith inThis Is Spinal Tap. His first book,Father Joe,was aNew York Timesbestseller. He lives in New York.

Discussion Questions

1. Critics have called the novel a satire of contemporary America. Which elements of the imaginary, future USA do you think are closest to their counterparts in the present? Which are most outlandish? Is there any trait or tendency that all the objects of satire in the novel share?

2. Look at the physical descriptions of the main characters in the story (for example, Maria (pg. 39), Reverend Sabbath (pg. 13) and Jay (pp. 46-47). How does the author translate the inner lives of these characters into their appearance? What can you tell from these physical descriptions about his representation of good and evil?

3. Why did the author choose Johnny Grecoa l3: