About the Author

Tony Hendra (1941-2021) was a multimedia humorist and the New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Father Joe: The Man Who Saved My Soul, and the novel The Messiah of Morris Avenue.

Educated at Cambridge in the early 1960s, Hendra developed his satirical style as a writer and performer with the university's Footlights theatrical group alongside future Monty Pythons John Cleese and Graham Chapman. After stints in a comedy act in New York and as a television writer in Los Angeles, he joined the staff of Harvard's National Lampoon from its inception in 1970. As a writer and managing editor, Hendra was instrumental in transforming the magazine into a popular media franchise.

In 1984, he wrote for the BAFTA Award-winning Spitting Image television puppet program satirizing politics and pop culture, and portrayed heavy metal band manager Ian Faith in Rob Reiner's mockumentary This is Spinal Tap. He also appeared on such television shows as Miami Vice and Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and cowrote the film satire The Great White Hype starring Samuel L. Jackson and Jamie Foxx.

A frequent contributor to New York, Harper's, GQ, Vanity Fair, Men's Journal, and Esquire, Hendra was the last editor-in-chief of the satirical magazine Spy.

Reviews

"Hendra's writing sparkles." --The New York Times Book Review "I was prepared for my usual serving of sharp Tony Hendra satire; I was not prepared for his sensitive and highly convincing exposition of the true teachings of Jesus Christ. I love this book." --George Carlin

In this satire of the religious right in America, the United States is dominated by fundamentalist Christians led by powerful TV evangelist Rev. James Sabbath, who, along with the President of the United States, a figure roughly based on George W. Bush, plan an attack on the United Nations of Europe in hopes of bringing the second coming of Jesus Christ. However, as down-on-his-luck journalist Johnny Greco discovers, Jesus might have already returned in the form of Jos? Francisco Lorcan Kennedy, or Jay, who, with a small band of followers drawn from the homeless, former drug addicts, and other outcasts, travels through New York and New Jersey preaching kindness, generosity, and forgiveness and working a few miracles as well. Johnny's reporting on Jay brings him nationwide publicity and into conflict with the reverend over the true meaning of Christ's message and causes the writer to reconsider his own beliefs. Hendra (Father Joe) slays many figures and ideas of contemporary religion and politics and provides sharp social commentary on such things as the Internet and SUVs. Skillfully narrated by John Bedford Lloyd, this novel is recommended for all audio collections.-Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Lib., Parkersburg Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

"Hendra's writing sparkles." --The New York Times Book Review "I was prepared for my usual serving of sharp Tony Hendra satire; I was not prepared for his sensitive and highly convincing exposition of the true teachings of Jesus Christ. I love this book." --George Carlin