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| Title | : | The Last Jew |
| Author | : | Noah Gordon |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special 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 |
Noah Gordon
Paperback | Pages: 352 pages Rating: 4.1 | 6686 Users | 338 Reviews
Description To 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.
Itemize Books Toward The Last Jew
| Original Title: | The Last Jew |
| ISBN: | 0312300530 (ISBN13: 9780312300531) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Setting: | Spain |
Rating Regarding Books The Last Jew
Ratings: 4.1 From 6686 Users | 338 ReviewsCommentary Regarding Books The Last Jew
This is a wonderfully absorbing historical novel about people (and the central character, a Jew) living during the 15th century and the Spanish Inquisition. The author is a great story-teller and weaves his character through this period in history giving you the feeling that you are a living, breathing person alive during this tumultuous time. This story engages you from the very beginning a holds your interest until the last page. And, like most great books...you only wish the book were longer!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.
I was worried that this would turn into "My name is Yonah Toledano. You killed my father. Prepare to die." Then nothing much happened, and I wish it had.
The Spanish Inquisition is the era in which this story takes place, setting in motion an adventure that takes the main character through many parts of Spain. I thought there was a "Les Miserable" feeling to story by how Yonah, the main character, feels pursued, has to flee and hide his identity, and find love. I think the author's writing immerses the reader in details of the period as he moves the story along. I did not find any boring or slow parts in the writing. The impact of the Inquisition
The Last Jew (2000) is the second book by Gordon that I've read in recent months. The first was The Physician (2001). His stories offer excellent reading value both as a result of the amount of historical research he puts into them which give them a feel of authenticity as well as the way each story is crafted. The Last Jew takes place during the Inquisition in Spain in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The first part of the book conveys the devastating impact the Inquisition had on Jews.
I really enjoyed The Last Jew, but at the same time it made me so angry. As far as I know it's quite historically correct, and the treatment of Jews in the 16th century upsets me. Genocide is always horrible, and when it's brought about by Christians who really ought to know better, it makes it a so much more tragic and shameful action.It's not as well written as Shaman and The Physician but still well worth reading.
The story is that, upon the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, young Yonah Toledano is left alone as the last Jew in Spain (highly doubtful!). He wanders around, bereft of family and community, taking on a variety of jobs as needed to survive. He apprentices to an armorer, which ultimately doesn't work out when his master is killed. Honor-bound to deliver a box of money to the armorer's brother, who happens to be a physician, Yonah finds himself apprenticed to the physician. He eventually becomes
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