The Book of Abraham [Paperback]

Marek Halter (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In 70 A.D., when Roman forces sack Jerusalem, the scribe Abraham flees the city carrying little more than the scroll that documents his family history. For the next 19 centuries, one member of each new generation inherits this scroll along with the admonition that the record must be kept up to date. From Alexandria to Toledo, from Strasbourg to the Warsaw ghetto, Halter provides a moving account of Jews in exile. Abraham's descendants continue to work as scribes and eventually as printers. Since they are loyal to the word, it serves as their defense against oppression and solace in time of pain. This novel, much celebrated in Europe, has been aptly compared to Roots since it is based on records of the Halter family dating back to 1480 and on detailed historical research for the earlier centuries. Albert E. Wilhelm, English Dept., Tennessee Technological Univ., Cookeville
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: Toby Press (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592640397
• ISBN-13: 978-1592640393
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #731,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From The Sacking of Jerusalem To The Rebirth Of Israel, August 22, 2005

By 

Notnadia (Currently upstairs.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Abraham (Paperback)

Marek Halter's novel traces the history not only of one family, but by proxy, of Judaism itself for the last nineteen centuries. Beginning with the sack of Jerusalem by Romans in AD 70, the descendants of a scribe called simply "Abraham" record the births and deaths in a scroll that Abraham carried with him out from the burning city. We track his children and their children and their children on into Alexandria, Tours, Moorish Spain, and finally Poland at the time of the Nazi conquest of eastern Europe. As we pass from generation to generation, we encounter literally hundreds of men and women who can trace their heritage to the first Abraham of the Scroll. We follow them through times of peace and prosperity, and more frequently through occasions of tragedy. Through it all, pogroms and persecutions, plagues and wars, migrations and exiles the members of this one extraordinary family maintain their identity and faith and persevere into the twentieth century.

Excellent for historians and lovers of literature, Jews and non-Jews alike.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars must read, February 11, 2005

By 

Danny C (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Abraham (Hardcover)

Unlike the objective conveyance of history, this work of fiction captures the overwhelming sorrows of the Jewish people throughout the diaspora. By cleverly using a geneological scroll, relating the experiences of the family throughout the generations, Halter compassionately reveals the essence of the Jewish people as continuous survivors in a world which dispossesses them. His manner of writing is reflective and easy to read, yet he does not shy away from difficult concepts. I have no criticisms of this book. Since I seldom get to read for pleasure, I was very fortunate to have been recommended it. I do have some advice for anybody who plans to read it. Read it slowly. Stop between chapters and digest the many rich concepts offered. I was sorry when I finished it for that reason. How many times can that be said of anything?

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and Interesting Epic, March 31, 2007

By 

Gary Selikow (Great Kush) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Abraham (Paperback)

In this epic work of Jewish history, Marek Halter uses an ancient document passed down from generation to generation through the centuries, and fleshed it out to create an exciting and informative epic novel.
Beginning in 70 CE (AD) Halter begins with the flight of a Jews called Abraham fron the burning city of Jerusalem, together with his family, during it's destruction by the Romans.
Taking us through the history of a Jewish family from Jerusalem to North Africa to Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and Poland, This is a history of Halter's family and of the Nation of Israel.
The words of the book are permeated with words of wisdom such as "A dream of cake is a dream, not a cake, but a dream of a journey is itself a kind of journey" as well as the prayers of the Jews through the millenia: " May the Allmighty protect us from those who persecute us, and against those who speak evil of us. Blessed be the Allmighty". These words are as pertinent today as ever. The book deals with question such as why the Chumash started with the creation. And sayings such as Sof Tov Hakol Tov- All's Well That End Well"-Now we know how Shakespeare got the name for the play of that title.
We read of the cruel decrees of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, outlawing circumcision, observance of the Sabbath and study of the Jewish Law, in the Land of Israel, creating a situation where being a Jews in the Land of the Jews was punishable by death.
Hadrian went so far as changing the name of Judea to Palestine, after the enemies of the Jews who had once occupied the environs of Gaza, the Phillistines.
We learn of the massacres perpetrated during the crusades, the Spanish Inquisition and the bloody pogroms of Chmielnicki in which thousands of Jewish men, women and children were cruelly slaughtered. Of the struggles of the Nation of Israel: " Do not fear the venom of the wicked...aim your arrows and strike down the evildoer..."
The book speaks of the yearning through the exile, of the Jews for the Land of Israel and Jerusalem, and we are introduced to historical figures as diverse as the false messiah Shabbatai Tzvi, the beautiful Marrano Dona Gracia (Nasi), and the apostate Uriel Acosta.
We read of the loves and the struggles of the lives of the real life figures in this epic.
finally the book ends with the account of the Abraham who perished in the flames of the Warsaw ghetto, where the Jews fought a valiant battle against the Nazi monstrosity, always longing for freedom in their own land, the Land of Israel.