Mary, Mother of Martyrs

“Elkins has produced an engaging study of motherhood and self-sacrifice through her application of feminist rhetorical analysis. It is well worth scholars’ time and energy to follow Elkins”


L. Stephanie Cobb, Author of Divine Deliverance: Pain and Painlessness in Early Christian Martyr Texts





“What sets this book apart from other works of cultural history…is that it reads ancient


texts with contemporary intertexts: Mary stands in solidarity with Latin American maternal


activists, the Maccabean mother self-immolates with female Palestinian suicide bombers,


and Perpetua and Felicitas perform with Pussy Riot. There is as yet no name for the novel


critical genre Elkins has birthed here.”


Stephen D. Moore, Edmund S. Janes Professor of New Testament Studies Drew University