Spell-binder

In the hard-hitting works of Harold Robbins, even the sacred isn’t sacred. He takes aim at the world of religious revivalism. They’re all over the airwaves-the televangelists-promising eternal salvation for an earthly price. The biggest of them all simply calls himself “Preacher.” He begins his career in the foxholes of Vietnam, with a noble goal: spread the word of peace, love, and charity. Back home in the States, he starts “The Church,” where sex and drugs are as much a part of the culture as prayers and sacraments.

Preacher’s following grows as he travels throughout the country, taking the faithful. In Texas, he meets up with a powerful billionaire who likes his style. Before long, Preacher is the top entertainer in the televised arena of big-top, big-time religion for profit. Somewhere deep inside Preacher, a guilty conscience burns, and he knows he must make a terrible sacrifice to expose the hypocrisy.