The Messiah [Hardcover]

Marek Halter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008

Halter returns with a remarkable tale, based on truth, of the little-known crusade by a 16C Jew to marshal support for a Jewish state, 4 centuries before the creation of modern-day Israel.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1524, David Reubeni—a real-life prince and military envoy of a lost Jewish kingdom—traveled to Venice aiming to establish a Judeo-Christian alliance that would seize Jerusalem from Ottoman control. In Halter's remarkable imagining of David's travels, throngs of followers flock to David as he makes his way through the center of Christendom, mesmerized by the strange man's vast knowledge and regal charm. The prince's tactical and strategic plans to create a Jewish homeland soon win the monetary and diplomatic support of Pope Clement VII and King João III of Portugal. In time, David is given 12,000 men to fight the Turks, an unprecedented feat at a time when European Jews were persecuted and forced to live in ghettos. But David's lofty goals also attract ruthless enemies and eager fanatics who mistake David for a messiah, all of whom jeopardize his mission. The harrowing adventure is satisfying in its ample twists and turns, but Halter's writing of David Reubeni into the historical fabric of premodern Europe—imagining David taking refreshment with Machiavelli, becoming the subject of a sculpture by Michelangelo and suggesting the creation of the College des Lecteurs Royaux to King Francis I—is the book's major pleasure. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Marek Halter was born in Poland in 1936. During World War II, he and his parents narrowly escaped from the Warsaw ghetto. After a time in Russia and Uzbekistan, they emigrated to France in 1950. The Halter embarked on a career as a painter that led to several international exhibitions. He is also the author of several internationally acclaimed, bestselling historical novels, including Messiah, The Wind of the Khazars, Sarah, Tzipporah, Lilah and the Book of Abraham, which won the Prix du Livre Inter.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 350 pages
• Publisher: The Toby Press; 1st English Language Ed edition (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592642160
• ISBN-13: 978-1592642168
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,487,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars long book--486 pages, June 20, 2009

By 

Bette B. Prater "retired & loven it" (okc,ok,usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Messiah (Hardcover)

It is the year 1524.

Jew David Reubeni is a Warrior.
He goes to see the Pope.

He wants the Pope to help him get an
army together of Christians and Jews to
remove the Arabs from Israel.

The Pope says he will help him. But
every thing goes terribly wrong.

He has few supporters among his own
people. He is betrayed, horribly.

Some people in Italy want him to be
THE MESSIAH but he is not. Most Jews
don't want him stirring up trouble.

Christians and Jews turn him over to
the Inquisition. They want him burned
at the stake.

He is a complicated hated man.

Who is David Ruebeni? Book says he is
from Chabor a Jewish kingdom of 300,000
people in the African desert. He is a
King Josephs brother.

Believe it or not--book is BASED on a
true story.

David R wanted to make a homeland for the
Jews several centurys before one actually
came into being.

A true visionary. Dead before his time.

Halter is a great author. I love his women
stories the best.

bette 60ish okc ok retired