The Jewish Lover [Hardcover]

Edward Topol (Author), Christopher Barnes (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1998

Joseph Rubinchik is a nonpracticing Jew, a journalist whose soft-spoken sexual magnetism attracts goddesslike young women as he travels on assignment across Russia. KGB agent Oleg Dmitryevich Barsky intends to stir up riots against the Jews by exposing Rubinchik's myriad seductions.

To aid him, Barsky blackmails the beguiling Anna Evgenyevna to be his investigative prosecutor by threatening to reveal a scandalous affair in her past. But unbeknownst to Barsky, Rubinchik was Anna's first lover and she still has deep feelings for him. Furious at being forced into such a position, Anna instead investigates Barsky, discovering a past that could well destroy the scheming agent, and setting up a triangle that threatens to consume them all.

Already a number-one bestseller in Russia, The Jewish Lover is a sexy, poignant, violent--and at times wildly funny--thriller that chronicles the struggle of two bitter enemies. With impeccable skill and stunning imagination, Edward Topol re-creates the refusenik culture of the 1970s and transports the reader deep into a Soviet Union known only to a few.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Already a bestselling novelist in his native Russia, Topol (Red Snow) blends intrigue, erotica and politics, adding a dash of magical realism in his first offering for the U.S. market in a decade. Set in the Soviet Union during the 1970s, this is the story of two men, one a high-profile Jewish journalist with a passion for young Russian virgins, and the other a KGB officer seeking revenge for the seduction of his only daughter. Iosif Rubinchik sees it as his mission to help young girls "across the narrow divide from a virgin ignorance to femininity," imagining this effort to be like "restoring the beauty of an old ikon painting." His enemy, Colonel Oleg Barsky, is determined to foster hostility towards Russia's Jews. Plotting to force Rubinchik to emigrate by making him look like a traitor, Barsky has the journalist's wife and children publicly harassed. He also sends officers to remote villages to extract evidence of Rubinchik's manipulation from the "victims" of his seductions. Furthermore, Barsky blackmails attorney Anna Evgenyevna to be his investigative prosecutor in the case by threatening to expose her affair with a Jewish man. What Barsky doesn't know is that Anna has warm memories of her evening as one of Rubinchik's virgins. Anna investigates Barsky, and what she uncovers about his past gives her a hold over the domineering KGB man. Although the reader is sometimes aware that this is a translation, it's so skillfully done that the author's voice remains strong. Altogether, it's an imaginative and engaging story. (Dec.) FYI: Topol emigrated to the U.S. 20 years ago from the Soviet Union. His book China Lane, a Russian Primary Colors, was the hottest-selling title in Russian in 1997.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

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

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 403 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312155573
• ISBN-13: 978-0312155575
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,715,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweepingly historical yet contemporary tale of Russia., October 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Jewish Lover (Hardcover)

This is an outstanding story, with rich characterizations, suspense, and yet it is vibrantly romantic and erotic. The writing is superb. I found myself outraged at the indignities suffered by Jews in the 1970's Soviet Union; tormented within their own country but not permitted to leave. There is an historical thread woven throughout the trials of the main characters. This book is strongly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read....!, January 23, 2012

By 

Anthony E. Polston - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Jewish Lover (Hardcover)

Great historic read! NOT a conventional historic read though. Read this book via my local library over ten years ago when it first came out and recently tried to find it to re-read but couldn't find it in the catalogue,....so tried Amazon and viola!