Call number
FICTION Wishnia
Subjects
Publication
New York : William Morrow, 2010
Description
"Whatever you are currently reading, I promise you it is not nearly as intelligent, witty, compelling, or entertaining as The Fifth Servant....Wishnia makes history come alive." -- David Liss, author of The Devil's Company A brilliantly imagined, beautifully written combination of scrupulously researched historical novel and riveting suspense thriller, Kenneth Wishnia's The Fifth Servant carries readers back to 16th century Prague in the shadow of the Papal Inquisition--and introduces a uniquely unforgettable protagonist, a young Talmudic scholar who has three days to solve a heinous murder before official reprisals decimate the city's Jewish community. A richly atmospheric tale of religion, mystery, and intrigue, The Fifth Servant recreates life in the era when Emperor Rudolph II occupied the throne--a time of uncertainty and fear viewed through the eyes of an intrepid rabbinical student on a quest for truth and justice.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Cariola
The kindest thing I can say is that this book might be enjoyable for someone else--but not for me. It kept screaming out, "Look at all my research!" Which is fine if you're doing research, but not if you are trying to enjoy a work of historical fiction. The research should not overwhelm a good
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story. It's a murder mystery set in late 16th century Prague (and I admit to not being a mystery fan), much of it taking place within the Jewish ghetto, where a merchant is wrongly accused of killing a Christian child, and a newly-arrived Polish Talmudic scholar comes to his defense. The dialogue lapses into Yiddish, Hebrew, Czech, German, and Polish (there is a rather inaddequate glossary in the back of the book)--another unnecessary demonstration of the author's education. But I got both lost in and bored by the minute details of Talmudic law and scholarship. The plot is thin and the characters rather weak, and both are overwhelmed by the pedantic details. Show Less
LibraryThing member picardyrose
Jewish synagogue sexton must solve a mystery before the Christians attack, which they plan to do as soon as they've finished Easter dinner. Also, 16th-century Prague.
LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
I'm really torn on how to review this book. Because on one hand, I think it was absolutely brilliant although at times I felt as if the author was writing for a specific audience and, while I'm on the fringed edge of that audience, there were parts I just couldn't grasp, and on the other hand I
I think the best way to review The Fifth Servant is to look at it two ways; first, as a murder mystery and second, as a historical novel dealing with the friction in 16th century Prague between the Christians and the Jews.
As a murder mystery, I found The Fifth Servant to be lacking. The details of the murder were so lost in all of the politics between religions, the rich descriptions of Prague, the smattering of strange words (although a helpful translation guide is located at the end of the book - something I figured out about 3/4ths of the way through), and the endless debating that the Jews are portrayed to do. While the murder was, initially, a fantastic hook into the story, it just seemed to slowly grow less and less the main focus of the book, although the characters actions tried to keep it a focus. There was simply too much going on.
Which leads me to the second thing this book is, a historical novel. As this, I found the book to be incredible. I knew so little about this time period and place that I found everything to be fascinating. I had no idea that the Jews had their special place (and relative protection) and for the reasons stated in this book. I found the descriptions and language to be completely immersive and, understandably, I felt lost at times because I was not familiar with street names and the Hebrew and Czech languages.
I think for a history buff, and someone interested in the religious and political aspects of this novel, that there are few out there that can compare. It's obvious that Kenneth Wishnia has done his research and spent much time and effort in creating a book that would, as accurately as possible, capture 16th century Prague.
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found that the mystery was more of a distraction then anything else.I think the best way to review The Fifth Servant is to look at it two ways; first, as a murder mystery and second, as a historical novel dealing with the friction in 16th century Prague between the Christians and the Jews.
As a murder mystery, I found The Fifth Servant to be lacking. The details of the murder were so lost in all of the politics between religions, the rich descriptions of Prague, the smattering of strange words (although a helpful translation guide is located at the end of the book - something I figured out about 3/4ths of the way through), and the endless debating that the Jews are portrayed to do. While the murder was, initially, a fantastic hook into the story, it just seemed to slowly grow less and less the main focus of the book, although the characters actions tried to keep it a focus. There was simply too much going on.
Which leads me to the second thing this book is, a historical novel. As this, I found the book to be incredible. I knew so little about this time period and place that I found everything to be fascinating. I had no idea that the Jews had their special place (and relative protection) and for the reasons stated in this book. I found the descriptions and language to be completely immersive and, understandably, I felt lost at times because I was not familiar with street names and the Hebrew and Czech languages.
I think for a history buff, and someone interested in the religious and political aspects of this novel, that there are few out there that can compare. It's obvious that Kenneth Wishnia has done his research and spent much time and effort in creating a book that would, as accurately as possible, capture 16th century Prague.
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
This historical mystery takes place during the Jewish Inquisition of the 17th century in Prague. A girl is found murdered, and the Jewish shop owner is taken into custody in spite of his innocence. The Jews are given 3 days to prove the man's innocence, and one of the days is a Sabbath, which poses
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a problem. The "sleuth" is a rabbi-in-training. This is a book that I both loved and hated. The book is well-written, but parts of it are not very readable. The reason for this is the abundance of terms in other languages. Only a few are explained in the text itself. There is a glossary in the back which includes some, but there are terms which are not explained at all. It makes for some very slow reading when one is constantly having to flip to the back of the book to locate the meaning of a term, especially if it is not there and one must search elsewhere for its definition. The historical research done by the author is quite evident to the reader. The acknowledgements in the back of the book not only mention persons but also the sources that were consulted in preparation of the book. I found that the mystery somehow got lost in much of the discussion of the Tanakh and Rabbinical literature (Midrash, Mishnah, etc.) I suspect that this novel will appeal more to those of Jewish faith than those who have little familiarity with the rabbinical literature. Fortunately, I was able to follow some of the discussion based on my knowledge of the Old Testament. It was the rabbinic discussions that sometimes lost me. I enjoyed learning more about the Jewish Inquisition in that part of Europe. It was certainly not humane treatment they received. Show Less
LibraryThing member LiteraryFeline
When I first read the description of Kenneth Wishnia's novel, The Fifth Servant, I knew I had to read it. Set in late 16th century Prague during the inquisition when Catholics and Protestants are battling for control, the Jewish people in the ghetto are going about their lives, hoping attention is
Benyamin is an outsider even in his own community. He is a newcomer who hasn't yet proven his value. He traveled from his home in Poland, following his wife, a woman who feels betrayed by him. Benyamin still has hope that he could win her back. With the prejudices and biases of the authorities involved with the murder investigation, Benyamin knows he has a difficult road to travel to get to the truth. He knows he cannot do it alone.
Anya is a Christian woman, the daughter of a butcher. She earns extra money by working as a servant in a Jewish home despite the prohibition by the Catholic Church against Christians working for the Jews. Because of Anya's foot in both worlds, she is the perfect person to ask for help with the investigation into the girls' murder, a friend of both Christians and Jews. She is observant and intelligent but must be careful.
There was much in the way of Talmudic thought and discussion throughout the novel, which I found quite interesting. I have long been interested in the Jewish faith and history. The author clearly did a lot of research into the traditions and history of the time period. The hostility between the various religious factions was a big focus of the novel. The Catholic Church in that region was very powerful and punitive. It seemed to be a fearful time, one where a cry of witchcraft or blasphemy by a neighbor would be enough to warrant punishment, even torture without a full investigation. My heart went out to the midwife who was only trying to make her living, having to watch her every step for fear she'd be accused of witchcraft.
The novel was told from the perspective of both Benyamin and Anya, one in first person the other in third. The Fifth Servant takes place over three days, but is not a fast paced book for all the author tries to accomplish, both in conveying the historical aspects of the time period as well as the more philosophical discussions that take place between the characters. There are also the personal stories: Benyamin's attempts to reconcile with his wife and Anya with her own internal struggles, including whether or not to pursue forbidden love. There is building tension, especially as Benyamin's deadline to bring forward the real killer approaches and the angry mob outside the gates grows more and more violent. The mystery itself, the search for what happened to the murdered girl, seemed almost secondary to the other events taking place in the book. Still, it definitely is what moved the story forward.
The Fifth Servant was not quite I expected, but I did enjoy it. I would have preferred there to have been more of a balance between the mystery itself and the other aspects of the novel; however, there was so much going on that I can see how challenging that might be. The inquisition is an interesting and sad part of our world's history, and I was inspired to do a little research into the time period and setting of the novel after finishing it--always a good sign.
Source: Review Copy provided by publisher.
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not turned on them. When the body of a young Christian girl is found on the floor of a Jewish businessman's shop, however, all eyes focus on the Jewish community and what is perceived as their Jew-magic. Shammes Benyamin comes upon the scene hoping to sort it out only to find himself more deeply involved than he could have anticipated. Suddenly it is on his shoulders to find out what really happened, prove that it was not a blood crime, and save the ghetto from complete destruction by the angry mobs outside the gates.Benyamin is an outsider even in his own community. He is a newcomer who hasn't yet proven his value. He traveled from his home in Poland, following his wife, a woman who feels betrayed by him. Benyamin still has hope that he could win her back. With the prejudices and biases of the authorities involved with the murder investigation, Benyamin knows he has a difficult road to travel to get to the truth. He knows he cannot do it alone.
Anya is a Christian woman, the daughter of a butcher. She earns extra money by working as a servant in a Jewish home despite the prohibition by the Catholic Church against Christians working for the Jews. Because of Anya's foot in both worlds, she is the perfect person to ask for help with the investigation into the girls' murder, a friend of both Christians and Jews. She is observant and intelligent but must be careful.
There was much in the way of Talmudic thought and discussion throughout the novel, which I found quite interesting. I have long been interested in the Jewish faith and history. The author clearly did a lot of research into the traditions and history of the time period. The hostility between the various religious factions was a big focus of the novel. The Catholic Church in that region was very powerful and punitive. It seemed to be a fearful time, one where a cry of witchcraft or blasphemy by a neighbor would be enough to warrant punishment, even torture without a full investigation. My heart went out to the midwife who was only trying to make her living, having to watch her every step for fear she'd be accused of witchcraft.
The novel was told from the perspective of both Benyamin and Anya, one in first person the other in third. The Fifth Servant takes place over three days, but is not a fast paced book for all the author tries to accomplish, both in conveying the historical aspects of the time period as well as the more philosophical discussions that take place between the characters. There are also the personal stories: Benyamin's attempts to reconcile with his wife and Anya with her own internal struggles, including whether or not to pursue forbidden love. There is building tension, especially as Benyamin's deadline to bring forward the real killer approaches and the angry mob outside the gates grows more and more violent. The mystery itself, the search for what happened to the murdered girl, seemed almost secondary to the other events taking place in the book. Still, it definitely is what moved the story forward.
The Fifth Servant was not quite I expected, but I did enjoy it. I would have preferred there to have been more of a balance between the mystery itself and the other aspects of the novel; however, there was so much going on that I can see how challenging that might be. The inquisition is an interesting and sad part of our world's history, and I was inspired to do a little research into the time period and setting of the novel after finishing it--always a good sign.
Source: Review Copy provided by publisher.
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LibraryThing member suesbooks
I did not care much for this book. It was a mystery that took place in Prague in the late 1500's. I felt no attachment to the characters and felt the author included too many people to keep track of and too many details. I also did not care for the humor he presented. It seemed juvenile, rather
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than witty. Show Less
LibraryThing member rondoctor
Excellent historical and murder mystery fiction ... with a Jewish theme. Well drawn characters and an intriguing plot. Very well written. The author has a good sense of humor.
LibraryThing member zibilee
In this riveting historical mystery set in 16th century Prague during the Inquisition, Benyamin Ben-Akiva, the newly arrived shammes (religious leader), finds himself embroiled in the investigation of a murder that threatens to tear apart the Jewish community. It all begins when the body of a young
When I initially started reading this book, I was worried that I had too little knowledge of Jewish history and culture to be able to fully appreciate what Wishnia was trying to do with this story. But from the moment that Benyamin Ben-Akiva hears the wailing cry of a mother looking for her daughter piercing the city's early morning tranquility, I knew this was going to be a story that not only moved me, but that kept me reading late into the night. Though this book dealt heavily with Judaism and particularly the academic side of it, it was at once enlightening and unfamiliar. Wishnia has a way of not only generously pouring out information, but of explaining it in a way that almost anyone could understand.
At the heart of this story is the conflict between the Jewish and Christian populations of Prague. During the 16th century, the Jews were segregated into their own community, and though they were allowed basic freedoms and protections under Emperor Rudolph, they were also harassed, reviled and often the scapegoats of the community when anything went amiss. The hatred eminating from the Christians was almost too hard to read about, and once again, I realized it was not only in Nazi Germany that the Jews had suffered at the hands of others who thought themselves superior to them. This book reminded me a little of The Mistress of the Art of Death in the way it related the plight of the Jews. In both books, the Jews were at the center of a controversy after a child was killed and the Christians believed the Jews had committed the murder in order to use the blood of the slain child as an ingredient in a ritual. In both books, the outrage and anger from the Christian sector was similar. It's interesting to note that this motive for the murder would be impossible, as the Jews as a whole look upon blood as unclean and would have been at great pains to avoid it, but the Christians use their influence and prejudice to ascribe monstrous qualities and intentions on these people.
Wishnia also reveals himself in this book as a superior scholar. A vast amount of the dialog and narrative revolves around quotes and ideas represented in the Talmud, the Torah, the Kabbalah and other Jewish writings. These sections of theological debate exist right alongside the story, and often, the two embrace and imbue the story with allegorical and symbolic meanings that further heighten the plight of the Jews, both in the immediate and historical sense. I felt these sections melded together beautifully, and though at first I was intimidated with all the knowledge that was being passed to me through the pages, I grew to trust what Wishnia was doing and what he would create. I can't adequately express how academically potent this book was to me, and not only was it extremely edifying, it also turned the story into a complex and astute work of art.
Another thing that impressed me was the range of unusual characters that passed through the story. There were wise women and prostitutes, a giant mentally challenged man, and inspectors who had hidden hearts of gold. There were brave men and cowardly ones, stubborn and recalcitrant wives, and Christan girls with forbidden passions. All of these characters felt very well rounded and three dimensional and they were intrinsic to the value of this strange and wonderful tale. Though I liked all of the characters and felt varying degrees of attachment to them, it was Benyamin Ben-Akiva who was the star of the show. He was just so human and his impulses to disobey and follow his own path were constantly at war with his spiritual beliefs and leanings. There were times when he bent the prescribed law and times he played it by the book, but it was his vibrancy and his duty to the Jews of his newly arrived home that I found most interesting. Benyamin Ben-Akiva's altruism played dangerously with his selfishness, which to me was very human.
Though this was a rather intense and dense book, I thought Wishnia did an incredible job of not only telling his story, but backing it up with an undeniable atmosphere and flavor that not many historical novels can deliver. The book had the ability to be a fast paced page turner and a slow introspective read, which is also unusual. I think the scope of the story was impressive, and the fact that Wishnia never falters in his narrative makes this a book that a lot of reader will enjoy. I certainly did, and I look forward to plowing through it again, with an eye to disseminating some of the more theological aspects in greater detail. Highly recommended.
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Christian girl is found in the shop of Jacob Federn, a Jewish businessman. Despite his pleas of ignorance, the Christian sector of Prague, who already hate and lambast the Jews, believe Federn has killed the girl in order to use her bodily fluids for a blood ritual. This incenses the Christians, and soon Federn is in custody and the segregated Jewish ghetto is under lock-down. Benyamin Ben-Akiva, a newcomer to the town, immediately begins to investigate the strange case, but due to his status as a Jew, he must rely on a bevy of Jews and Christians alike to bring the girl's true killer to light. As he carefully uncovers clue after clue, he discovers the improbable status of Jews in his new homeland and gains insight into his own religion through the help of other like-minded rabbis who are also considered dangerous freethinkers. As the hours wind down and the Jews fate begins to look inescapable, Benyamin Ben-Akiva enlists the help of a group pf ragtag villagers, prostitutes, and a Christian girl with the heart and mind of a Jew, culminating in a shocking conclusion that will change the city of Prague, and Benyamin Ben-Akiva, forever.When I initially started reading this book, I was worried that I had too little knowledge of Jewish history and culture to be able to fully appreciate what Wishnia was trying to do with this story. But from the moment that Benyamin Ben-Akiva hears the wailing cry of a mother looking for her daughter piercing the city's early morning tranquility, I knew this was going to be a story that not only moved me, but that kept me reading late into the night. Though this book dealt heavily with Judaism and particularly the academic side of it, it was at once enlightening and unfamiliar. Wishnia has a way of not only generously pouring out information, but of explaining it in a way that almost anyone could understand.
At the heart of this story is the conflict between the Jewish and Christian populations of Prague. During the 16th century, the Jews were segregated into their own community, and though they were allowed basic freedoms and protections under Emperor Rudolph, they were also harassed, reviled and often the scapegoats of the community when anything went amiss. The hatred eminating from the Christians was almost too hard to read about, and once again, I realized it was not only in Nazi Germany that the Jews had suffered at the hands of others who thought themselves superior to them. This book reminded me a little of The Mistress of the Art of Death in the way it related the plight of the Jews. In both books, the Jews were at the center of a controversy after a child was killed and the Christians believed the Jews had committed the murder in order to use the blood of the slain child as an ingredient in a ritual. In both books, the outrage and anger from the Christian sector was similar. It's interesting to note that this motive for the murder would be impossible, as the Jews as a whole look upon blood as unclean and would have been at great pains to avoid it, but the Christians use their influence and prejudice to ascribe monstrous qualities and intentions on these people.
Wishnia also reveals himself in this book as a superior scholar. A vast amount of the dialog and narrative revolves around quotes and ideas represented in the Talmud, the Torah, the Kabbalah and other Jewish writings. These sections of theological debate exist right alongside the story, and often, the two embrace and imbue the story with allegorical and symbolic meanings that further heighten the plight of the Jews, both in the immediate and historical sense. I felt these sections melded together beautifully, and though at first I was intimidated with all the knowledge that was being passed to me through the pages, I grew to trust what Wishnia was doing and what he would create. I can't adequately express how academically potent this book was to me, and not only was it extremely edifying, it also turned the story into a complex and astute work of art.
Another thing that impressed me was the range of unusual characters that passed through the story. There were wise women and prostitutes, a giant mentally challenged man, and inspectors who had hidden hearts of gold. There were brave men and cowardly ones, stubborn and recalcitrant wives, and Christan girls with forbidden passions. All of these characters felt very well rounded and three dimensional and they were intrinsic to the value of this strange and wonderful tale. Though I liked all of the characters and felt varying degrees of attachment to them, it was Benyamin Ben-Akiva who was the star of the show. He was just so human and his impulses to disobey and follow his own path were constantly at war with his spiritual beliefs and leanings. There were times when he bent the prescribed law and times he played it by the book, but it was his vibrancy and his duty to the Jews of his newly arrived home that I found most interesting. Benyamin Ben-Akiva's altruism played dangerously with his selfishness, which to me was very human.
Though this was a rather intense and dense book, I thought Wishnia did an incredible job of not only telling his story, but backing it up with an undeniable atmosphere and flavor that not many historical novels can deliver. The book had the ability to be a fast paced page turner and a slow introspective read, which is also unusual. I think the scope of the story was impressive, and the fact that Wishnia never falters in his narrative makes this a book that a lot of reader will enjoy. I certainly did, and I look forward to plowing through it again, with an eye to disseminating some of the more theological aspects in greater detail. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member thiscatsabroad
I liked this book. A lot. But let me just say what I din´t like about it: I found the narrator´s and the protagonist´s voices far from historically accurate. Their voices were flippant, glib and far too modern.The modern turns of phrase employed detracted from the story´s historicity and served
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to detract from its authenticity. having said that, I did like this novel. A lot :) Show Less
LibraryThing member jenzbaker
History 16th C Inquisition (Jewish perspective), set in Prague. Powerful evocation of people under persecution, densely philosophical, great use of well-timed humor, witty, enjoyable characters and Talmud examples, golem.
Awards
Macavity Award (Nominee — Historical Mystery — 2011)
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Status
Available
Call number
ISBN
0061725374 / 9780061725371