Noah Gordon
Paperback | Pages: 352 pages Rating: 4.1 | 6686 Users | 338 Reviews
Define Appertaining To Books The Last Jew
| Title | : | The Last Jew |
| Author | : | Noah Gordon |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 352 pages |
| Published | : | August 15th 2000 by St. Martin's Griffin (first published 1999) |
| Categories | : | Historical. Historical Fiction. Fiction. Cultural. Spain. Literature. Jewish |
Description Concering Books The Last Jew
In the year 1492, the Inquisition has all of Spain in its grip. After centuries of pogrom-like riots encouraged by the Church, the Jews - who have been an important part of Spanish life since the days of the Romans - are expelled from the country by royal edict. Many who wish to remain are intimidated by Church and Crown and become Catholics, but several hundred thousand choose to retain their religion and depart; given little time to flee, some perish even before they can escape from Spain.Yonah Toledano, the 15-year-old son of a celebrated Spanish silversmith, has seen his father and brother die during these terrible days - victims whose murders go almost unnoticed in a time of mass upheaval. Trapped in Spain by circumstances, he is determined to honor the memory of his family by remaining a Jew.
On a donkey named Moise, Yonah begins a meandering journey, a young fugitive zigzagging across the vastness of Spain. Toiling at manual labor, he desperately tries to cling to his memories of a vanished culture. As a lonely shepherd on a mountaintop he hurls snatches of almost forgotten Hebrew at the stars, as an apprentice armorer he learns to fight like a Christian knight. Finally, as a man living in a time and land where danger from the Inquisition is everywhere, he deals with the questions that mark his past. How he discovers the answers, how he finds his way to a singular and strong Marrano woman, how he achieves a life with the outer persona of a respected Old Christian physician and the inner life of a secret Jew, is the fabric of this novel. The Last Jew is a glimpse of the past, an authentic tale of high adventure, and a tender and unforgettable love story. In it, Noah Gordon utilizes his greatest strengths, and the result is remarkable and moving.
Mention Books In Favor Of The Last Jew
| Original Title: | The Last Jew |
| ISBN: | 0312300530 (ISBN13: 9780312300531) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Setting: | Spain |
Rating Appertaining To Books The Last Jew
Ratings: 4.1 From 6686 Users | 338 ReviewsCrit Appertaining To Books The Last Jew
I loved this book as a way to familiarize myself with the history of Spain. I traveled to Spain and Portugal this past summer and had a fun time reading the history of this painful period.When seeing references to Isabella's Spain, tend to think of this. Have appreciated several of Mr Gordon's stories. Recommend his Physician work most.***Here's a quote from Noah's website.When all unconverted Jews are expelled from Spain during the Inquisition, 15-year-old Yonah Toledano is left behind. He begins a meandering journey, part desperate flight, part voyage of discovery. The story of his growth into manhoodas a physician with the outer persona of an Old Christian and a soul that
This book came highly recommended but I approached it with some hesitation because I dread the subject matter. I always say that I'm not going to read any more books about the holocaust, the inquisition, any genocide at all. Then I read a good story like this and am glad that I did. The story telling is superb. It rolls along quickly and gives so much history with out feeling like a history class. I really enjoyed it.
Excellent telling of attitude of Spanish during Jewish diaspora. Dialogue nicely depicts language phrasing of 15th century
If you're like me and don't know a lot about late-15th-century Spain, this novel is a nice accessible little history lesson. I learned a lot about beliefs and customs at the time of the Spanish Inquisition. Ferdinand and Isabella issued a royal edict expelling all Jews from Spain. Fifteen-year-old Yonah Toledano is a Jewish boy whose family members have all fled or been slain. He stays in Spain, keeping his Jewishness a secret and using a Christian name. He travels far and wide on his trusty
This historical fiction novel traces the life of a young Jewish man in Spain during the time of the Inquisition and expulsion of the Jews. Yonah Toledano is forced to abandon his familys town and to begin a long and dangerous journey to forge a new life within Spain--one which causes him ostensibly to abandon his identity, but which also makes his sense of self and his wish to adhere to his religion grow ever stronger.
Gripping. I went into a family-owned bookstore in my hometown (where I worked my first job) and asked the owner's daughter for a book that would take me out of my life and totally consume me. This was perfect--a true page-turner, and for a reader who usually loves books about loss and grief, and those about women's lives, this was a welcome change. I can recommend it to my guy friends too! Beautifully written, with an ending that makes things come full circle in real-life ways.
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