Author: Geraldine Brooks

Soft cover version published by Penguin Books.

446pps – NS. 49. Available at Tzomet Hasfarim.

Reviewed by Rolly Kohansky

The Sarajevo Haggadah is a book of rare beauty, written in 14^th century Spain and considered to be the oldest book of its kind. Because of its gorgeous illuminations, this treasured Haggadah is unique in that paintings depicting human images were forbidden by Jewish law.

Geraldine Brooks, a writer of considerable talent, (winner of the Pulitzer Prize for her novel “March”) has taken the Sarajevo Haggadah as her theme for People of the Book. Linking the threads of research and imagination, she has woven fact and fiction into a fascinating tapestry that follows this remarkable book through its turbulent history.

People of the Book is stunning in so richly illuminating the history of the Sarajevo Haggadah while commenting on the era in which the events take place, taking us from the 14^th century Spanish Inquisition through to anti-semitism in Venice, the rise of nazism in Vienna, and several wars in Bosnia.

The book begins when the protagonist, Hannah Heath, an Australian conservationist, specialist in ancient tomes, is hired to work on the book, found miraculously intact despite the heavy shelling during the Bosnian wars. This work is taking place in the Sarajevo Museum under the watchful eyes of the curator. She explains that unlike restorers who chemically remove unsightly aspects of ancient items to uncover their original beauty, a conservationist is careful to preserve everything found “warts and all” to keep its history intact.

Whilst working on the Haggadah, Hannah experiences a thrilling sense of discovery when she finds several stains and other artifacts within its pages and bindings and determines to trace their origins and thus reveal the mysteries of how the book survived.

Through a number of chapters, each one based on one of those found artifacts, the author skillfully recreates the events of the book’s 500 year history, introducing a host of compelling, marvelous characters that make up the imagined, incredible story of the Haggadah as it is written, illuminated and bound. She takes us on its fascinating journey as it survives the Inquisition, Nazi horrors, several Bosnian wars, and many human tragedies.

People of the Book will hold your interest throughout. Though it can best be described as a book of historical fiction, the writer’s admirable talents and astounding research abilities succeed in bringing to life spellbinding tales of ancient times and cultures and the people who risked their lives to save this remarkable book.

Some of the outstanding characters include a cruel and cunning papal censor in Venice whose task it is to burn books of “dangerous” ideas, especially those of the Jews. His friendship with the Rabbi Judah Aryeh does not prevent him from playing a cat-and-mouse game with the Haggadah as the prize. There is the exquisite Moorish slave whose story reveals one of the mysteries of the book; the syphilitic Viennese bookbinder who crosses paths with the renowned Jewish doctor and the Muslim librarian who saves the Haggadah from the Nazis through a brilliant maneuver.

I have to admit that the one fault I found with the book is that of the character of the protagonist, whose narrative at times seemed to interfere with the more interesting events.

But why nitpick. The book is spellbinding, with that minor detraction, a terrific read that will grab your attention from page one and not let go until the final word.