Why Was Zora Neale Hurston So Obsessed With the Biblical Villain Herod the Great?
Briefly

"The life story of HEROD THE GREAT has EVERYTHING," Hurston claimed, detailing her extensive research in a bid to rehabilitate the historical figure's reputation amidst biblical villainy.
Hurston, undeterred by rejection in her later years, expressed unwavering faith in her work, equating her dedication to that of Herod's ambitious aspirations despite tragic outcomes.
In her correspondence, Hurston described Herod as 'handsome, dashing, a great soldier, a great statesman, a great lover,' evoking admiration for a character typically cast as a villain.
The posthumous publication of Hurston's manuscript on January 7, her 134th birthday, finally reveals her passionate pursuit to tell Herod's story after decades of obscurity.
Read at Smithsonian Magazine
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