Editorial Review: Eden by Brennan S. McPherson

An emotionally wrought personal retelling of the centuries that have passed since his creation as told to Enoch by Adam – the first man of this world. 

Eden: Biblical Fiction of the World’s First Family tells the history of the world from Adam’s point of view; through Adam’s hopes and dreams, Adam’s thoughts and emotions. Retelling his life to Enoch, God’s new prophet on earth, Adam relates all that has happened to him in the 641 years since he was called awake by his creator in the garden of Eden.

After the death of Eve and 641 years after creation, Adam is broken and compelled to relate his life story to Enoch, the only other person in creation who has heard his Father's voice. Adam remembers everything that has ever happened to him and knows that he must impart this history of himself – and indeed of the world – in order that it may be passed on to those who will follow. Adam needs to divulge all that has happened from the garden through the fall, all the challenges and the failures in between. Using the relationship between Adam and Eve as a magnifying glass on relationships – both between people and between Adam and his almighty Father McPherson brings a wonderfully personal touch to the well-known story of Adam and Eve.

Eden: Biblical Fiction of the World’s First Family is poetically written, with inspiration and the awe of God coming off it in waves. The prose is heavy with descriptive language which may at first be off-putting to those new to biblical fiction, though it must be said that it does successfully convey the religious wonder and admiration that is the aim of the author. McPherson has taken inspiration for his story from the first four chapters of the book of Genesis, which tells of the Fall of Man in the garden, and expands upon it by imagining the relatable story of two people trying to find their way.

The clear audience for Brennen McPherson is the religious community, those who wish to explore their relationship with their God, and those who enjoy thinking about their religion beyond the scripture. However, Eden is also an interesting and enjoyable story which is well-written and can also be appreciated by those who are not of the religious persuasion.

A poetic and ornate piece of fiction that manages to stay close to scripture while telling an extremely human story.