Like all skilful authors, the composer of the biblical books of Luke and Acts understood that a good story requires more than a gripping plot - a persuasive narrative also needs well-portrayed, plot-enhancing characters. This book brings together a set of new essays examining characters and characterization in those books from a variety of methodological perspectives. The essays illustrate how narratological, sociolinguistic, reader-response, feminist, redaction, reception historical, and comparative literature approaches can be fruitfully applied to the question of Luke's techniques of characterization. Theoretical and methodological discussions are complemented with case studies of specific Lukan characters. Together, the essays reflect the understanding that while many of the literary techniques involved in characterization attest a certain universality, each writer also brings his or her own unique perspective and talent to the portrayal and use of characters, with the result that analysis of a writer's characters and style of characterization can enhance appreciation of that writer's work.

Next morning, he awoke to find at the foot of his bed a gleaming new bicycle, with a note tied to the handlebars. "From Boffo in gratitude," it read, "but remember my words: the machine is not as important as the man." The Great Boffo is coming to town! A young boy yearns to watch his hero in the big bicycle race, in Frank Dickens' 1973 children's classic. But first he has delivery rounds to make on his old boneshaker. When Boffo gets a puncture, he has no choice but to borrow the boy's delivery bike and try his hardest to win the race ... A classic tale of sporting heroism from the golden age of cycling. Frank Dickens was an author and illustrator, best known for his cartoon strip 'Bristow', which ran for a record-breaking 41 years in the Evening Standard. An outstanding cyclist as a young man, Dickens nearly turned pro but instead found fame as a cartoonist, becoming one of the nation's favourites. His work appeared in many papers, including the Sunday Express and Sunday Times, as well as in many successful books. - A nostalgic cycling classic, depicting the golden era of racing - Boffo's stirring message "the machine is not as important as the man" reclaims an important sporting ideal from Lance Armstrong and It's Not About the Bike. - Frank Dickens' work has been loved by millions over the years, including the record breaking 41 year history of his 'Bristow' strip in the Evening Standard.

Like all skilful authors, the composer of the biblical books of Luke and Acts understood that a good story requires more than a gripping plot - a persuasive narrative also needs well-portrayed, plot-enhancing characters. This book brings together a set of new essays examining characters and characterization in those books from a variety of methodological perspectives. The essays illustrate how narratological, sociolinguistic, reader-response, feminist, redaction, reception historical, and comparative literature approaches can be fruitfully applied to the question of Luke's techniques of characterization. Theoretical and methodological discussions are complemented with case studies of specific Lukan characters. Together, the essays reflect the understanding that while many of the literary techniques involved in characterization attest a certain universality, each writer also brings his or her own unique perspective and talent to the portrayal and use of characters, with the result that analysis of a writer's characters and style of characterization can enhance appreciation of that writer's work.