![]() Historical fiction at its finest: I will be thinking about The Books Of Jacob’s characters and places for years to come, and I am mesmerised at how the author managed to weave this tale together to produce such a significant piece of work. In The Ugly History of Beautiful Things, Katy Kelleher considers her desire for rare or pretty objects, as both life-affirming and morally problematic. Despite not being the easiest travelling companion due to its sheer weight, I am extremely glad that it was translated into the English language, expertly crafted by Jennifer Croft who conveys the essence of the novel so well. Tokarczuk has received much acclaim for previous work, including being awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Literature and the 2018 International Booker Prize for previous novel, Flights. Highlighting the different religious movements, there is a strong focus on the numerous characters – numerous enough for me to create a list, I must confess. Nahman is writing his life, while following. It starts with Sabbatai Zevi, with various people claiming to be his successor. ![]() Nahman Samuel ben Levi will go on to tell Jacob’s tale in this book and will be a loyal disciple. ![]() ![]() ![]() The two are travelling together (and arguing). It’s difficult to convey the detail and scope as the story follows Jacob Frank, mystic and sect-leader, as he travels across the borders of Eastern Europe and sheds light on a significant period of its history. Our first real meeting of Jacob is with Nahman Samuel ben Levi of Busk. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |