This is a study of an anonymous ancient work, originally composed in Greek, titled Joseph and Aseneth. Although relatively unknown outside of scholarly circles, the story is remarkable because of its focus on a female character and its lack of overt misogyny and has traditionally been viewed as an early second-century C.E. conversion story of Jewish provenance. Kraemer offers conclusions that differ with previous findings in questions of date, provenance, identity, geographic origin and textual relationships as well as in matters of interpretation. She also explores the story's implications within the context of late antique constructs of and concerns about gender.

About the Author
Ross Shepard Kraemer is Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at Brown University.

Reviews
This important book deserves a careful reading by students of Aseneth and the various other texts and traditions investigated. * Journal of Biblical Literature *
This is a wonderful text well worth the care Kraemer grants it. * Journal of Early Christian Studies *
Kraemer's work is now the point of reference for further studies of Joseph and Aseneth ... For anyone interested in the ancient religious fiction generally or in the complex history of Judaism and Christianity in the late antique period, this enormously erudite and thoroughly engaging work will be a stimulating read. * Hebrew Studies *



Book Information
ISBN 9780195114751
Author Ross Shepard Kraemer
Format Hardback
Page Count 384
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 726g
Dimensions(mm) 236mm * 160mm * 38mm