.gif)
People of the Book (novel)
Encyclopedia
People of the Book is a 2008 historical fiction
novel by Geraldine Brooks. The story focuses on an imagined past of the still extant
Sarajevo Haggadah
, one of the oldest surviving Jewish illuminated
texts.
Told in reverse chronological order, the story follows the Haggadah backward in time as it travels across Europe
, from war-torn Sarajevo
to the book's origins. It also explains such clues as missing silver clasps, preserved butterfly remnants, and various stains and spots, which are all eventually explained as part of the manuscript's long history.
that provides more details about the Sarajevo Haggadah and its real-life rescuers, especially Dervis Korkut, who hid it from the Nazis. It also explains that Lola, the young Jewish guerrilla fighter in the novel, is based on a real person named Mira Papo, who was sheltered by Dervis Korkut and his wife Servet.
's The Da Vinci Code
, with USA Today
calling it an erudite version of Brown's work, while other reviewers have noted that it is slower paced, that there are no cliffhangers, that readers "are never convinced . . . (by its) contrived and cliched personal story."
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
novel by Geraldine Brooks. The story focuses on an imagined past of the still extant
Extant literature
Extant literature refers to texts that have survived from the past to the present time. Extant literature can be divided into extant original manuscripts, copies of original manuscripts, quotations and paraphrases of passages of non-extant texts contained in other works, translations of non-extant...
Sarajevo Haggadah
Sarajevo Haggadah
The Sarajevo Haggadah is an illuminated manuscript that contains the illustrated traditional text of the Passover Haggadah which accompanies the Passover Seder. It is one of the oldest Sephardic Haggadahs in the world, originating in Barcelona around 1350. The Haggadah is presently owned by the...
, one of the oldest surviving Jewish illuminated
Illuminated
Illuminated may refer to:* Illuminated dance floor, a floor with panels which light up with different colours* Illuminated Film Company, a British animation house...
texts.
Plot summary
The novel tells the fictional story of Hanna Heath, an Australian book conservator who is responsible for restoring the Haggadah. The story alternates between sections set in the present day with Heath and other sections showing the history of the Haggadah.Told in reverse chronological order, the story follows the Haggadah backward in time as it travels across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, from war-torn Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
to the book's origins. It also explains such clues as missing silver clasps, preserved butterfly remnants, and various stains and spots, which are all eventually explained as part of the manuscript's long history.
Factual background
The book's Afterward briefly explains which parts of the novel are based on fact and which are imaginary. Geraldine Brooks wrote an article for The New YorkerThe New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
that provides more details about the Sarajevo Haggadah and its real-life rescuers, especially Dervis Korkut, who hid it from the Nazis. It also explains that Lola, the young Jewish guerrilla fighter in the novel, is based on a real person named Mira Papo, who was sheltered by Dervis Korkut and his wife Servet.
Critical reception
The novel has been compared with Dan BrownDan Brown
Dan Brown is an American author of thriller fiction, best known for the 2003 bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code. Brown's novels, which are treasure hunts set in a 24-hour time period, feature the recurring themes of cryptography, keys, symbols, codes, and conspiracy theories...
's The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code is a 2003 mystery-detective novel written by Dan Brown. It follows symbologist Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu as they investigate a murder in Paris's Louvre Museum and discover a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei over the possibility of Jesus having been married to...
, with USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
calling it an erudite version of Brown's work, while other reviewers have noted that it is slower paced, that there are no cliffhangers, that readers "are never convinced . . . (by its) contrived and cliched personal story."
Awards
- 2008: The Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) Book of the Year and Literary Fiction Book of the Year
External Links
- "I Have This Paper which I Know Comes from Israel", an interview with Davor Bakovic about his mother, Mira, a guerrilla fighter against the Nazis, on whom the character of Lola is based
- "2nd Annual Interfaith Heroes Month No. 23: Dervis Korkut" - information and photos on Dervis and Servet Korkut, on whom the characters of Serif and Stela Kamal are based