From Publishers Weekly
Who was the real Christopher Columbus? In Frohlich's captivating, extraordinarily vivid first novel, the white-haired widower and sea captain who alternately called himself Colombo, Colomo and Colon (never Columbus) was a Marrano, or converted Jew, an idealist who believed it his destiny to be "a light to the Gentiles." Frohlich, an attorney, spent eight years researching his book and brings remarkable realism to his chilling depiction of the fanaticism fueling the Inquisition. Queen Isabel is a merciless, sadistic, money-mad anti-Semite, and King Fernando henpecked. Among the other compelling characterizations are Beatriz, Columbus's outspoken Jewish mistress, cousin of the Grand Inquisitor Torquemada; and Boabdil, a weakling who deposes his own father to become sultan of Granada. Except for some patches of self-conscious dialogue, this is a convincing, detailed re-creation of the Old World on the brink of discovery.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
As much a story of the Spanish Inquisition as of Columbus's famous voyage, Frohlich's first novel ends with the three ships sailing from Spain. In this telling, the explorer uses various versions of his name and is vague about his origins in order to disguise his status as one of the new Christians (nominal Jewish converts) singled out by the Inquisition in part so that their assets may be acquired for the government. Spanning more than 15 years, the novel moves from warring Arabs to Queen Isabella to highly placed new Christians, but none of the characters is well developed. Neither is the storyline: the fragmented narrative, divided into short scenes only minimally connected to each other, makes it difficult to sustain interest. The author's thorough research is evident, but as a novel, 1492 is only average. Acquire where appropriate.
- Ellen Kaye Stoppel, Drake Univ. Law Lib., Des Moines
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
- Ellen Kaye Stoppel, Drake Univ. Law Lib., Des Moines
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
