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The Slave Paperback – October 1, 1988

by Isaac Bashevis Singer (Author), Cecil Hemley (Translator)

33 customer reviews

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Four years after the Chmielnicki massacres of the seventeenth century, Jacob, a slave and cowherd in a Polish village high in the mountains, falls in love with Wanda, his master's daughter. Even after he is ransomed, he finds he can't live without her, and the two escape together to a distant Jewish community. Racked by his consciousness of sin in taking a Gentile wife and by the difficulties of concealing her identity, Jacob nonetheless stands firm as the violence of the era threatens to destroy the ill-fated couple.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“The Slave is a burningly radiant, intensely beautiful book. Singer is answering his age like a prophet.” ―Ted Hughes, The New York Review of Books

“A peerless storyteller, Singer restores teh sheer enchantment with story, with outcome, with what-happens-next that has been denied most readers since their adolescence. There is about him a bardic quality that gives The Slave the strength and authority of a timeless folktale.” ―David Boroff, Saturday Review

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Yiddish

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Product details

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (October 1, 1988)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0374506809
ISBN-13: 978-0374506803
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 33 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #101 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Short Stories & Anthologies > Short Stories
- #493 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Jewish
- #1383 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Magical Realism

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November 11, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

As a result of the Chmielnicki massacres in 1648, thousands of Jews lost their lives, among them was the family of the Jacob, who was taken as a slave later to be sold to Polish peasants. Up there, in the mountains, he is treated by everyone as subhuman, except by one Polish peasant - Wanda. Naturally, they fall in love.

After fellow Jews from his hometown pay the ransom and free Jacob, he tries to live a normal life in his hometown, yet he cannot forgot Wanda. So he decides to go to Poland and bring Wanda back with him. Since it was illegal at the time and punishable by death to convert a Christian to Judaism, he decides to pass her as a mute until she masters the Yiddish language, so her Polish accent won’t reveal her.

Although thought to be a Jew, Wanda is mistreated by the community. Wanda, as a non-Jew living among Jews, is able to examine the Jewish community through a different set of eyes. Assumed to be mute, people feel free to talk in her presence. Fairly quickly, as Wanda herself is taught about Judaism by Jacob, she notices the hypocrisy, the decay and the lack of religious discipline within her community.

Before Wanda dies in childbirth, she reveals the secret of her Christian birth. This leads to Jacob running away in fear of his life, leaving his son to be taken care of by people in the community. To cut a story short, Jacob returns to take his son to Israel.

This is a very powerful story about a relationship between two people from different cultures and religions at a time when there was no tolerance for the other. It also a deep examination of the good and bad of religion.

One person found this helpful

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Literature that is Readable

November 10, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

No one can bring characters to life, and scenes to the immediate like IB Singer. This is a passionate, beautiful love story set during the 16th century in Poland, amid ignorance, violence, and a Poland transitioning from medieval mindsets. The courage and strength of the main characters, Jacob and the converted pagan, Sarah, is inspirational. Their love and devotion is palpable, and the historical context is absolutely fascinating. A great, unforgettable read. It is what I call READABLE LITERATURE.

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This is a wonderful little known book by Singer but I think it ...

September 11, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a wonderful little known book by Singer but I think it his best. This is the third copy I've bought because when I loaned it out, the people think it is as wonderful as I do and never gave it back. Love in the midst of bigotry, ignorance and war that lasts the test to time is wonderful!

Comment

May 26, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Known story for me, but worthwhile to own book itself.

Comment

It's Polish - So of course it's good

May 20, 2006

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Much like his predecessor Henryk Sienkiewicz, Warsaw-born Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904-1991) likewise won the Noble Prize in Literature. 'The Slave' is the first of his writings I have had the pleasure of reading and much like the other reviews reflect, I found it immensly enjoyable. I have read a great deal of Slavic fiction and I found this piece reminding me of other great works, in particular, Eliza Orzeszkowa's 'Meir Ezofowicz'. Similarly, it has the same romance and adventure you would find in Sienkiewicz's epic Triology and it's historically related. Sienkiewicz's 'Z Ogniem i Mieczem' (With Fire and Sword) is historically set around the 17th century Cossack uprising in the Polish Commonwealth.

In 'The Slave', the protaganist Jacob is a Jew that has found himself quite literally a slave to a Polish family as a consequent of the anti-Semitic rage that the Cossack uprising brought about. Jacob not only finds himself fortunate to be alive, but is in love with his master Jan Bzik's daughter, the beautiful Wanda. The romance develops throughout the story, along with Jacob the Jew's inner struggle to give into his feelings for Wanda the Gentile.

If you are a fan of slavic literature in general, you certainly won't be disappointed by this story.

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September 20, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Loved it and everything else he wrote

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September 29, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Well written, masterpiece. I'm glad I found this book. I enjoyed reading it.

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Sue R. Chenoweth

April 5, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

A magnificent book

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