A USA Today Bestseller
Winner of a National Jewish Book Award
Winner of the Association of Jewish Libraries Jewish Fiction Award
An Amazon Best Book of the Year
This book just moved up into my Top 10 All Time Favorite Books! Forewarning: this is not an easy read. But this book is so worth all the time it takes. Brilliant storytelling, remarkable characters, and their thirst for academic excellence will carry you through this mystery- in-documents across the centuries. Mirror events, eureka moments all in one delicious historical fiction story.
“A mysterious collection of papers hidden in a historic London home sends two scholars of Jewish history on an unforgettable quest….Kadish’s characters are memorable, and we’re treated to a host of them: pious rabbis and ribald actors, socialites and troubled young men, Mossad agents and rule-worshipping archivists. From Shakespeare’s Dark Lady to Spinoza’s philosophical heresies, Kadish leaves no stone unturned in this moving historical epic. Chock-full of rich detail and literary intrigue.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A gifted writer, astonishingly adept at nuance, narration, and the politics of passion.”
—Toni Morrison
“This astonishing third novel from Kadish introduces readers to the 17th-century Anglo-Jewish world with not only excellent scholarship but also fine storytelling. The riveting narrative and well-honed characters will earn a place in readers’ hearts.”
—Library Journal, starred review
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