By Fire, By Water

I had high hopes when I picked up this novel, which won the Independent Publishers Award for Historical Fiction.  It did not disappoint. Set in 15th century Spain, during the second inquisition, this sweeping novel brings together all of the major historical figures in Spain during this time.  Aragon's royal chancellor, Luis de Santángel's grandfather was a converso, one of the many Jews forced to convert to Christianity. The chancellor retains an interest in his Jewish heritage, a dangerous prospect given the "New Inquisition" that has recently come to Spain. When a close friend of his is killed by the inquisition, Santángel decides to take matters into his own hands.  I should warn that the descriptions of the torture used in this book are graphic in nature.  The tension is sustained from start to finish, and you find that you are truly hoping all the characters will find some type of peace in the end. The ending is a satisfying one, even if it isn't all together happy.  I think I happy ending however would have taken away from very authentic nature of this story.  See a full description of the story below.  Hopefully you will enjoy this book as much as I did.  Look for my last book review for the year in June, and a full list of my suggested summer reading!  Happy reading!


Publishers Weekly (March 15, 2010)
Kaplan, a screenwriter, sets his debut novel in 15-century Spain, amid the Inquisition, the attempt to unify the kingdoms of Spain under Christian rule, and the voyage of Christopher Columbus to what the seaman expects will be the Indies. The action centers on the historical figure of Luis de Santangel, chancellor to the king of Aragon and a converso, a Jewish convert to Christianity at a time when the Inquisition sought to repress "judaizing." Santangel is friend and financier of Columbus, surviving parent of young Gabriel, and more curious than is prudent about his Jewish heritage. While he learns about Judaism in clandestine meetings, a parallel story unfolds, centering on Judith Migdal, a beautiful Jewish woman who learns to become a silversmith in Granada, located in the last part of Spain under Muslim rule. Santangel's attraction to Judith grows, even as the Inquisition closes in and the prospect of another world to the West tantalizes. Kaplan has done remarkable homework on the period and crafted a convincing and complex figure in Santangel in what is a naturally cinematic narrative and a fine debut. (May) Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.