Author Margaret George, known for writing historical novels on such famous figures as Mary Queen of Scots and Cleopatra, decided to turn to the gospels for inspiration.

With what you might call the 'celebrities' like Mary Magdalene, you just have this outline of her life and the drama in it, even if it is shadowy, tantalisingly brief and potentially misleading".

[2] Some journalists have observed the increasing interest in Mary Magdalene, and have cited the popularity of George's novel as evidence of this trend.

[4] Maureen Dowd of The New York Times called the novel's premise – that Mary was a "good girl" rather than someone who tempts Jesus to evil – "intriguing".

[5] Dowd noted George's "rigorous research" but felt that she "goes a bit overboard with her feminist fable, turning Mary into the Gloria Steinem of Galilee".