Birth of a Prophet is a wonderfully inventive book by Dan Joyce, a wild mixture of poetry and song, visionary dialogues and emotionally charged prose. Joyce vividly portrays ongoing family conflicts, the struggles of his life as an artist, and an array of dazzling spiritual visions that ask profound questions while retaining a surreal sense of humor. Several Greek gods appear, as do Jesus and Siddhartha and the prophet of the title, as the book ponders the nature of God and belief, mental illness and health. The story considers the mysteries of time and space, but also confronts and rages against many societal injustices with great honesty and urgency, as Joyce strives to release his anger and deepen his sense of love for the world.
Illustrated and written by DAN JOYCE ©2024