This is not a traditional chronological biography, given the paucity of sources for such a straightforward factual exegesis; rather, it is an examination of the themes of his teaching and his public life as expressed through events and sayings in the Gospels. It attempts to apply historical analysis to these sources, comparing where known with any other relevant sources from this era, and looking at the plausibility of various events in a comparative context and considering the retrospective viewpoint of the Gospels written some time later during the early history of the post-Christ church. The key theme is the notion of the overwhelming centrality of the then believed to be imminent Kingdom of God, which puts so many of Jesus's sayings and teachings into context, free of modern liberal or socialist or even revolutionary connotations, and of fuzzy Victorian general goodwill to all men. There is a useful summary of the book's conclusions towards the end. This repays reading by anyone with an enquiring mind, whether believer, non-believer or just plain unsure enquirer/reader. ( )