Old Hat, New Coat

THE ROBE--Lloyd C. Douglas--Houghton Mifflin ($2.75).

When Lloyd Douglas (Magnificent Obsession, Disputed Passage) was a little boy, his parson father used to tell him Bible stories. Says Author Douglas: "If he needed to throw in a little drama to make the story even more interesting, why he threw it in."

Son Lloyd mastered the trick. The Robe (Christ's cloak) is a story of the past in modern dress. It describes the conversion to Christianity and martyr's death of Tribune Marcellus Gallic (the Roman who carried out Pilate's order to crucify Jesus) and the life of Marcellus' faithful Greek slave and bodyguard Demetrius. The setting is chiefly Rome, Palestine, Capri.

Devout readers may be startled by Author Douglas' robust retelling of parables and miracles, by his free & easy manner with the Apostles ("Peter has no polish . . ."). Classical scholars may wince at his slangy jollities in matters Roman ("Life wouldn't be worth a punched denarius"). Psychologists will nod retroactively when Marcellus has "reasons for surmising that [Antonia] was a victim of repression." Wodehouse fans will note the Jeeves-like quality of Bodyguard Demetrius ("You will need some heavier sandals, sir ... a shower and a rubdown put you in order. I have laid out fresh clothing.").

But Douglas fans may well agree that by pouring old wine into his new cocktail shaker, Author Douglas has once again produced a palatable mixture of ageless theme and modern viewpoint with the expertness of one of the oldest hands in the business.

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