- Paperback: 496 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd; New title edition (1 July 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0732280389
- ISBN-13: 978-0732280383
- Product Dimensions: 19.3 x 13 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (128 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,910,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
People of the Book
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Product Description
Review
From 1480 Seville to 1996 Sarajevo, a priceless scripture is chased by fanatics political and religious. Its recovery makes for an enthralling historical mystery. In Sydney, ace (and gorgeous) old-book conservator Hannah Heath gets a 2 a.m. phone call. She's summoned to Sarajevo to check out a 15th-century Spanish-made Haggadah, a codex gone missing in Bosnia during a 1992 siege. The document is a curiosity, its lavish illuminations appearing to violate age-old religious injunctions against any kind of illustration. Remarkably, it's Muslim museum librarian Ozren Karaman who rescued the Hebrew artifact from furious shelling. Questioning (and bedding) Ozren, Hannah examines the Haggadah binding and from clues embedded there - an insect's wings, wine stains, white hair - reconstructs the book's biography. And it's an epic. Chapter by chapter, each almost an independent story, the chronicle unwinds - of the book's changing hands from those of anti-Nazi partisans dreaming of departing for Palestine from war-torn Croatia, from schemers in 1894 Vienna, home, despite Freud and Mahler, of virulent anti-Semitism. Perhaps the best chapter takes place in 1609 Venice. There, not-so-grand Inquisitor Domenico Vistorini, a heretic hunter with a drinking problem, contends in theological disputation with brilliant rabbinical star Judah Aryeh. The two strike up an unlikely alliance to save the book, even while Vistorini at first blanches at its art - a beautiful depiction of the glowing sun, prophesying, the hysterical priest assumes, Galileo's heliocentric blasphemy. Tracing those illustrations back to their origin point, Hannah unkinks a series of fascinating conundrums - and learns, even more fiercely, to prize the printed page.Rich suspense based on a true-life literary puzzle, from the Pulitzer Prize - winning Brooks (March, 2005, etc.). (Kirkus Reviews) --Kirkus Reviews<br /><br />'The epic themes of love and war are her preferred canvas and here she sets up multiple narrative strands to tell the turbulent story of this Haggadah. Anti-Semitism is the momentum propelling the book's extraordinary journey forwards and Brooks evokes her various fraught historical-religious conflicts vividly.' - ---
'The epic themes of love and war are her preferred canvas and here she sets up multiple narrative strands to tell the turbulent story of this Haggadah. Anti-Semitism is the momentum propelling the book's extraordinary journey forwards and Brooks evokes her various fraught historical-religious conflicts vividly.' ---
'The epic themes of love and war are her preferred canvas and here she sets up multiple narrative strands to tell the turbulent story of this Haggadah. Anti-Semitism is the momentum propelling the book's extraordinary journey forwards and Brooks evokes her various fraught historical-religious conflicts vividly.' ---
Review
Praise for 'March': 'Brooks's considerable historical research for "March" is pleasingly lightly worn. Her efforts have borne a rich fruit. It is a big, generous romp that manages to make clever use of "Little Women" without suffocating beneath it.' Sophie Harrison, Sunday Times 'A tightly controlled novel in which, you sense, every sentence has been carefully weighed and calculated, and Brooks successfully balances narrative leanness with luxuriant language. "March" is that rare species: a serious popular novel that is not afraid to grapple with big ideas.' Douglas Kennedy, Waterstones Books Quarterly 'Researched with great historical thoroughness, "March" hews faithfully to the spirit of Alcott's original!Louise May Alcott would be well pleased.' Economist Praise for 'The Year of Wonders': 'The Year of Wonders is a staggering fictional debut that matches journalistic accumulation of detail to natural narrative flair.' Guardian 'A lyrically written and emotionally engaging novel.' Independent 'The plot is gripping, I like the psychological subtlety of characters struggling with a shifting world, and it's packed with historical detail.' Daily Mail
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Having enjoyed March last year, I anticipated a treat when I picked this book up, and I was not disappointed. If anything, this book is better than her previous work (rewarded with the Pullitzer Prize for fiction.) It was one that I was loathed to put down, and virtually had to force myself to go Christmas shopping rather than continuing to read! What an amazing book!
This novel concentrates predominantly in more modern times, although the 'novel within the novel' takes us back through time; exploring the persecution of the Jews through recent times and back to the Spanish Inquisition.
Hanna, the main character, is a restorer of ancient books who is invited to restore teh Sarajevo haggadah - an ancient text which appears to have been preserved against all the odds. During her time with the book, she discovers several 'clues' to the past history of the book and the people responsible for its preservation. These clues lead her to speculate a bit more about the history of the book - but, meanwhile, the 'book within the book' allows the clues to reveal more of the story to us, the readers.
Other reviewers have expressed disappointment that Hanna herself was not able to uncover the story of the book's history - but for me, that would have been totally unrealistic from the few small clues hidden within, and would have ruined the credibility of this well researched piece of fiction. After all, this book is entitled 'The People of the Book' - so it is totally appropriate that it looks at those involved in the preservation, rather than in the book itself. Nevertheless, hanna's story is beautifully dealt with, and Brooks has still managed to add a couple of intriguing twists to the end of the story.
I found it intriguing to read in the appendix that Geraldine Brooks was fortunate enough to have witnessed the uncovering of the book in Sarajevo. How fortunate she was to have been allowed this privelege! I have also been intrigued enough to follow up from my reading and to find out more about this incredibly beautiful book through internet research. It is my hope, before long, to be able to see it for myself!
Enjoy this book - it is a rewarding, informative and intriguing read; giving an incomaparable insight into many aspects of European History.
This novel concentrates predominantly in more modern times, although the 'novel within the novel' takes us back through time; exploring the persecution of the Jews through recent times and back to the Spanish Inquisition.
Hanna, the main character, is a restorer of ancient books who is invited to restore teh Sarajevo haggadah - an ancient text which appears to have been preserved against all the odds. During her time with the book, she discovers several 'clues' to the past history of the book and the people responsible for its preservation. These clues lead her to speculate a bit more about the history of the book - but, meanwhile, the 'book within the book' allows the clues to reveal more of the story to us, the readers.
Other reviewers have expressed disappointment that Hanna herself was not able to uncover the story of the book's history - but for me, that would have been totally unrealistic from the few small clues hidden within, and would have ruined the credibility of this well researched piece of fiction. After all, this book is entitled 'The People of the Book' - so it is totally appropriate that it looks at those involved in the preservation, rather than in the book itself. Nevertheless, hanna's story is beautifully dealt with, and Brooks has still managed to add a couple of intriguing twists to the end of the story.
I found it intriguing to read in the appendix that Geraldine Brooks was fortunate enough to have witnessed the uncovering of the book in Sarajevo. How fortunate she was to have been allowed this privelege! I have also been intrigued enough to follow up from my reading and to find out more about this incredibly beautiful book through internet research. It is my hope, before long, to be able to see it for myself!
Enjoy this book - it is a rewarding, informative and intriguing read; giving an incomaparable insight into many aspects of European History.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found this book such a good read that immediately I had completed it, I ordered Geraldine Brooks, "Year of Wonders". "The People of the Book" tells the story of the creation and survival of a Haggadah, through three historical ages and various European nations. Most interestingly it reveals both strengths and weakness in the three great mono-theistic faiths and acts of sympathy and understanding between them. The nature of the relationship between Hannah Heath, the book conservator and central figure, her mother and ultimately the memory, legacy and family of her father, unknown to Hannah until revealed through her research on this manuscript is handled beautifully. The meticulous detail into the material creation and development of books is a special bonus to any bibliophile.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
A novel about a book, and about the people whose lives are intertwined down the centuries because of it, Geraldine Brooks has created a memorable and magical tale that dips briefly into the lives of a wide range of people who came into contact with the Sarajevo Haggadah, an illustrated book of Jewish prayer that was saved from the conflict in Bosnia as it had been saved so many times before.
The present-day book restorer's exploration of the object she has in front of her opens up windows into the past thanks to small signs and markings she finds: a curious stain, a moth's wing, marks where clasps once were, which the author then spins into tales of what might-have-been, spanning the years and many walks of life. This is a book to spend time over, and the imagery is stunning, little breaths of history coming alive and making this a book within a book.
Its difficult to convey the sense of wonder you get as each layer of the mystery of the Haggadah's past is unfolded, as you go back in time and meet men, women and children who've lived, and sometimes died, and whose interaction with the book have left these tiny marks.
Truly a compelling read, and the insight into the restoration work and the clues mere paper and ink can leave were fascinating, although I was less interested in Hanna's life and loves than in the rest of the tale. Everything was drawn together beautifully in the end however.
The present-day book restorer's exploration of the object she has in front of her opens up windows into the past thanks to small signs and markings she finds: a curious stain, a moth's wing, marks where clasps once were, which the author then spins into tales of what might-have-been, spanning the years and many walks of life. This is a book to spend time over, and the imagery is stunning, little breaths of history coming alive and making this a book within a book.
Its difficult to convey the sense of wonder you get as each layer of the mystery of the Haggadah's past is unfolded, as you go back in time and meet men, women and children who've lived, and sometimes died, and whose interaction with the book have left these tiny marks.
Truly a compelling read, and the insight into the restoration work and the clues mere paper and ink can leave were fascinating, although I was less interested in Hanna's life and loves than in the rest of the tale. Everything was drawn together beautifully in the end however.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Never thought that book conservation could be so gripping
"The People fo the Book" is a well researched account of the mysterious history of the Sarajevo Haggadah. Read more
Published 5 days ago by A. Mills
People of the book by Geraldine Brooks
I selected this as good read for my kindle...not got round to it yet but will soon
...can't wait to start this book
...can't wait to start this book
Published 1 month ago by katy
History, Mystery, Romance and Factual all rolled into one!
I could not put this book down. The blending between fact and fiction was masterly. The characters evoked a real emotional response. There is something for everyone in this book.
Published 2 months ago by M. S. Piekarski
Moving, meaty, and satisfying
Geraldine Brooks is wonderfully good at finding intriguing subject matter. I loved "Year of Wonders", her story of the plague in Eyam, so I had high expectations of this book but... Read more
Published 6 months ago by billsown
Great book
This was a local book club book - a very good choice. Although the storythread is quite weak the 'Sheherezade; approach to relating the history of a religous artifact is inventive... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Aspiring Bookworm
Pleasantly surprising for a newcomer to Brooks
A book about a book automatically made me go YES! I love books about books such so to find out Brooks had written about books pleased me no end. Read more
Published 9 months ago by bethanchloe
people of the book
I bought this as a holiday read, read it , loved it, left it in lanzarote. i regretted that, as i wanted to read it again, so i have bought it again. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mrs. Janet L. Davies
Historical, theological, exceptional
Beautifully written. A journey through time and historical events as a book conservator is called into work on a Sarajevo haggadah. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ash
people of the book
I really enjoyed this book.
It is based on the true story of a Jewish religious text that was saved not once but twice from the destruction that surrounded WW2 and the Bosnian... Read more
It is based on the true story of a Jewish religious text that was saved not once but twice from the destruction that surrounded WW2 and the Bosnian... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Book Addict
The Magic of Books
The People of the Book was a true tale for all of us that love more than just the story in a book, it's for those of us that love the book itself, especially lovers of used books. Read more
Published 12 months ago by CJuniperG
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