Rashi's Daughters, Book III: Rachel: A Novel of Love and the Talmud in Medieval France [Mass Market Paperback]

Maggie Anton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rashi's Daughters | Publication Date: August 4, 2009

The dramatic final book in the epic historical trilogy about the lives and loves of the three daughters of the great Talmud scholar Rashi

Rachel is the youngest and most beautiful daughter of medieval Jewish scholar Salomon ben Isaac, or ?Rashi.? Her father?s favorite and adored by her new husband, Eliezer, Rachel?s life looks to be one of peaceful scholarship, laughter, and love. But events beyond her control will soon threaten everything she holds dear. Marauders of the First Crusade massacre nearly the entire Jewish population of Germany, and her beloved father suffers a stroke. Eliezer wants their family to move to the safety of Spain, but Rachel is determined to stay in France and help her family save the Troyes yeshiva, the only remnant of the great centers of Jewish learning in Europe.

As she did so effectively in Joheved and Miriam, Maggie Anton vividly brings to life the world of eleventh-century France and a remarkable Jewish woman of dignity, passion, and strength.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Maggie Anton was born Margaret Antonofsky in Los Angeles, California. Raised in a secular, socialist household, she reached adulthood with little knowledge of her Jewish religion. All that changed when David Parkhurst, who was to become her husband, entered her life, and they both discovered Judaism as adults. In the early 1990's, Anton began studying Talmud in a class for women taught by Rachel Adler, now a professor at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. She became intrigued with the idea that Rashi, one of the greatest Jewish scholars ever, had no sons, only three daughters. Slowly but surely, she began to research the family and the time in which they lived. Legend has it that Rashi's daughters were learned in a time when women were traditionally forbidden to study the sacred texts. These forgotten women seemed ripe for rediscovery, and the idea of a book about them was born.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Plume (August 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452295688
• ISBN-13: 978-0452295681
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #590,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Maggie Anton was born Margaret Antonofsky in Los Angeles, California. Raised in a secular, socialist household, she reached adulthood with little knowledge of the Jewish religion. All that changed when David Parkhurst, who was to become her husband, entered her life, and they both discovered Judaism as adults. That was the start of a lifetime of adult Jewish education, synagogue involvement, and ritual observance.

In the early 1990's, Anton learned about a women's Talmud class taught by Rachel Adler, now a professor at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. Nearly every Wednesday for five years, she and about six other women met around Rachel's dining room table to study the Steinsaltz Hebrew edition of Tractate Berachot. Teachers, tractates, locations and students changed, but Wednesday remained Talmud night for serious Jewish women scholars.

In 1997, as her children Emily and Ari left the house and her mother was declining with Alzheimer's Disease, Anton sought new interests. She became intrigued with the idea that Rashi, one of the greatest Jewish scholars ever, had no sons, only three daughters, and that their sons, Rashi's grandsons, became the Tosafot, the great twelfth century Talmud commentators. Slowly but surely, she began to research the family and the time in which they lived. Much was written about Rashi and the Tosafot, but almost nothing of the daughters, except their names and the names of their husbands. Legend has it that Rashi's daughters were learned in a time when women were traditionally forbidden to study the sacred texts. These forgotten women seemed ripe for rediscovery, and the idea of a book about them was born.

"Rashi's Daughters:Book I - JOHEVED" was published in 2005, in honor of the 900th anniversary of Rashi's death, "Book II-MIRIAM" in 2007, and "Book III - RACHEL" in August 2009 by Plume. A YA version for ages 9-14, "Rashi's Daughter: Secret Scholar" was published in 2008 by JPS.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Significant deterioration from first two books, September 15, 2009

By 

L. GORDON (SOMERVILLE, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rashi's Daughters, Book III: Rachel: A Novel of Love and the Talmud in Medieval France (Mass Market Paperback)

I read and enjoyed very much the first two books of this trilogy (Jocheved and Miriam),
so I looked forward to a great read this time.

Unfortunately, this book is plagued by several problems that detracted from what could have
been an interesting story:

1. Anton goes too far in attempting to include scattered bits of royal intrigue in the story.
It is impossible to keep track of the minor nobility/Church players who come up once or twice
to do something that never matters to the story. She should have stayed with the characters who
have roles in the plot of her main story, which would still have left many political and religious
figures.

2. Anton does not carefully weave new/remembered characters into the story, so more than once
I was going back to check who someone was in the family tree. This is made more difficult by the
fact that lots of people have duplicate names (not her fault) and the fact that she did not
include children who died early on the family tree (her fault), or a general list/glossary of
characters from the first two books (her fault). Yes, I read the first two, but I did not
have their characters at the top of my mind every second, and that should not be necessary
in reading the third book of a trilogy.

3. Anton's editors made a common mistake for established best-selling writers: they did not
edit the book carefully, leaving such glaring errors as "principle mourners" for "principal
mourners," misplaced punctuation, mis-conjugated verbs, and spelling errors.

4. The characters Eliezer and Rachel are simply not believable in many of their life
choices. It would have been far more believable, for instance, if Rachel and Dovid had
had some (any!) action. It would have been more believable if Rachel had refrained from
being overwrought with passion for her husband (!) when he continually treats her poorly
and cheats on her. Rachel's relationships with other people, like her parents, sisters,
and children - are all very well done and believable, so it is just this one that is
problematic and poorly written.

5. Anton missed a brilliant chance to address what was likely an STD (syphilis?) infection
that kept causing Eliezer's reproductive woes, considering his promiscuity. Usually she does
a great job with the historical-medical content, but not in this case - she did not use it
as a plot element.

...I do think that Anton is a good writer, and I would likely buy books from her next
series. But I hope that she will put as much effort into later chapters of her story as she
does into the beginnings.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bittersweet, brilliant third act, August 15, 2009

By 

Roberto Roberts "rroberto18" (Southern CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rashi's Daughters, Book III: Rachel: A Novel of Love and the Talmud in Medieval France (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm not a reader of romance novels, but I am a fan of historical fiction -- if the work at hand is well-researched, imaginative and believable. The first two books in Maggie Anton's "Rashi Daughters" trilogy fit those criteria and I'm happy to report so does the finale. The opening hostage scene of "Book III: Rachel" is a good example. The historic details of this kidnapping seem true to its time-period; the scene proves an exciting teaser without any foreseeable conclusion; and its unique ransom dilemma fits what we know or are about to find out about the victim's way of life.

Author Maggie Anton's analysis of source materials from the predominately Christian culture of medieval France is paired with her passion for Jewish Talmud as a spiritual life source worthy of study today. The story of the latter's leading scholar ends as it began in Book I. It continues in the timeless familial tradition of both faiths -- through the memories of the next generation.

Reading the last volume of a great trilogy provides a bittersweet experience. It allows us to follow the characters and plot to a fitting conclusion in a now familiar past one can virtually see and taste. But that very end point leaves us frozen in time on a much-loved and long-traveled road, wanting to go further. Clearly, "Rashi's Daughters, Book III: Rachel," is above leaving any obvious openings for sequels or prequels. This underscores the artistry of an author ready to lead us into different cultures from other centuries past. After promoting this great read, Ms. Anton can get back to work, re-applying her research skills and writing gifts without any need to repeat herself. We don't know where she'll take us next, but my hunch is Ms. Anton already does.
Rashi's Daughters, Book 1: JohevedRashi's Daughters, Book II: Miriam: A Novel of Love and the Talmud in Medieval France

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expectations met solidly, August 20, 2009

By 

Bushido - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rashi's Daughters, Book III: Rachel: A Novel of Love and the Talmud in Medieval France (Mass Market Paperback)

I had no doubt that this book would be as excellent as the first two - I ordered as quickly as I could when I realized it was available. And! I am recommending it to people as a "must read". As most of us who study Torah know, it is a never-ending learning/education - and these books are a perfect example. I always, always learn something within these books. The historical side smacks us in the face with the horrors that Jewish communities went through and it is so hard to comprehend the terror those people had to have felt. I know that I felt suffocated when reading about those trapped in the bishop's home - and their slaughter. It's interesting to see their reactions to eclipses or star showers - and what they think it must portend. To see a continuation of the families and their joys and heartaches was fulfilment - I'll miss them, but I look forward to whatever Maggie Anton has to offer us down the road in future books and future travels. Something about Babylon was mentioned - that should be very interesting.