Sheffield Old Testament Guides: Ruth and Esther

In this guide, Katrina J.A. Larkin studies the only two biblical books to have been named after women and finds them refreshingly different. She surveys a rich field of new writing on Esther, and poses questions which are returning to the fore of Biblical studies: What makes a biblical text theologically valuable or dangerous, and how do our perceptions change? What is the relation between history and theology? What is the status of variant forms of the biblical tradition? How does the book achieve its literary impact? Larkin also tackles the elusive issues of the date of authorship, and the relationship between this book and Israelite law.