Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Other Press (2010), Edition: 1st, 284 pages
Description
Luis de Santangel, chancellor to the court and longtime friend of the lusty King Ferdinand, has had enough of the Spanish Inquisition. As the power of Inquisitor General Tomas de Torquemada grows, so does the brutality of the Spanish church and the suspicion and paranoia it inspires. When a dear friend's demise brings the violence close to home, Santangel takes retribution into his own hands, though the risk is great. Santangel is from a family of conversos, and his Jewis heritage makes him an easy target. Soon, he finds himself implicated in the murder of the first Chief Inquisitor of Aragon and in possession of a mysterious text that has spelled death for Jews for centuries. As he witnesses the horrific persecution of his loved ones, he begins slowly to reconnect with the Jewish faith his family left behind. Feeding his curiosity about his past is his growing love for Judith Migdal, a clever and beautiful Jewis woman navigating the mounting tensions in Granada. While he struggles to decide what his reputation is worth and what he can sacrifice, one man offers him a chance he thought he'd lost... the chance to hope for a better world. Chistopher Columbus has plans to discover a route to paradise, and only Luis de Santangel can help him.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member writestuff
“We must recover that book. The log of his testimony.” Turning back to the priest, he affirmed aloud what they both knew. “And the canon, he must die. Pedro de Arbues,” he nodded slowly, “must die before he destroys you, me, and our associates.”
Caceres lowered his voice. “I know the
They looked into each other’s eyes. It occurred to Santangel that if he had ever felt anything akin to Christian love, it was in this moment, in their shared hatred. – from By Fire, By Water, page 74 -
Mitchell James Kaplan’s debut novel is set in fifteenth century Spain during the time of the New Inquisition when King Fernando and Queen Ysabel were waging war and expelling all Jews from Spain. This period is also remembered for Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus) and his discovery of the Western Hemisphere. Kaplan has taken all of these events and created an historical novel of depth, passion and faith which held me spellbound.
Luis de Santangel, a converso (the Spanish term which designates a person whose parents or grandparents abandoned their Jewish faith and embraced Christianity…usually under duress) and chancellor to the throne, takes center stage in By Fire, By Water. Horrified by what the Inquisition is doing, Luis finds himself deeply conflicted by his Christian faith. He longs to understand the differences between the Jewish and Christian beliefs. This struggle leads him to engage in secret meetings with a Jewish scribe and several others to learn more about the faith his family abandoned.
With Abram Serero, Luis de Santangel explored ideas that had intrigued him all his life. He argued about the nature of truth, God’s role in history, justice, and love. He came to feel an intellectual enfranchisement he had never felt before, invigorating and empowering. The freedom to navigate between the great ideas and sentiments of his own faith and that of his grandfather was a rare privilege. – from By Fire, By Water, page 52 -
When a close friend is arrested and dies, Luis becomes enraged at a system that punishes those who dare question the edicts and beliefs of the Church. His choice to silence the Chief Inquisitor of Aragon (Pedro de Arbues) puts his life and the lives of his family in danger.
A parallel story – that of a Jewish silversmith who is raising her orphaned nephew in the endangered city of Granada – is seamlessly inserted into the novel. Judith Migdal is a strong, inspiring character…and it is no surprise when her path crosses Luis’ as the Spanish war machine grinds ever closer to her home.
By Fire, By Water closely follows the historical record, but it is also very much a novel…bringing to life the streets of fifteenth century Spain, the horrors of the Inquisition (Kaplan does not spare readers the brutal torture endured by those arrested), and the drama of the time period when new lands were being discovered by sea exploration.
Big, passionate, brilliantly written, full of court intrigue and religious politics, I loved this novel. I read the last half of the book in one afternoon, unable to lay it aside until I knew what would happen. Kaplan’s descriptions are gorgeous. He effortlessly transports the reader into the past. He also brings forth the questions of the time: What were the motivations of King Fernando and Queen Ysabel? Were they simply religious fanatics, or were financial considerations the primary reason for supporting the Inquisition and the ultimate expulsion of the Jews from Spain?
Kaplan writes in his author’s note at the end of the book:
The purpose of a historical novel is to locate and reveal the dramatic core of history.
If that is the purpose, then I would congratulate Kaplan on achieving it. By Fire, By Water is a must read for historical fiction fans, especially those interested in fifteenth century Spain.
Highly recommended.
Caceres lowered his voice. “I know the
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man to do it. A horseman. A Basque. A skilled assassin.”They looked into each other’s eyes. It occurred to Santangel that if he had ever felt anything akin to Christian love, it was in this moment, in their shared hatred. – from By Fire, By Water, page 74 -
Mitchell James Kaplan’s debut novel is set in fifteenth century Spain during the time of the New Inquisition when King Fernando and Queen Ysabel were waging war and expelling all Jews from Spain. This period is also remembered for Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus) and his discovery of the Western Hemisphere. Kaplan has taken all of these events and created an historical novel of depth, passion and faith which held me spellbound.
Luis de Santangel, a converso (the Spanish term which designates a person whose parents or grandparents abandoned their Jewish faith and embraced Christianity…usually under duress) and chancellor to the throne, takes center stage in By Fire, By Water. Horrified by what the Inquisition is doing, Luis finds himself deeply conflicted by his Christian faith. He longs to understand the differences between the Jewish and Christian beliefs. This struggle leads him to engage in secret meetings with a Jewish scribe and several others to learn more about the faith his family abandoned.
With Abram Serero, Luis de Santangel explored ideas that had intrigued him all his life. He argued about the nature of truth, God’s role in history, justice, and love. He came to feel an intellectual enfranchisement he had never felt before, invigorating and empowering. The freedom to navigate between the great ideas and sentiments of his own faith and that of his grandfather was a rare privilege. – from By Fire, By Water, page 52 -
When a close friend is arrested and dies, Luis becomes enraged at a system that punishes those who dare question the edicts and beliefs of the Church. His choice to silence the Chief Inquisitor of Aragon (Pedro de Arbues) puts his life and the lives of his family in danger.
A parallel story – that of a Jewish silversmith who is raising her orphaned nephew in the endangered city of Granada – is seamlessly inserted into the novel. Judith Migdal is a strong, inspiring character…and it is no surprise when her path crosses Luis’ as the Spanish war machine grinds ever closer to her home.
By Fire, By Water closely follows the historical record, but it is also very much a novel…bringing to life the streets of fifteenth century Spain, the horrors of the Inquisition (Kaplan does not spare readers the brutal torture endured by those arrested), and the drama of the time period when new lands were being discovered by sea exploration.
Big, passionate, brilliantly written, full of court intrigue and religious politics, I loved this novel. I read the last half of the book in one afternoon, unable to lay it aside until I knew what would happen. Kaplan’s descriptions are gorgeous. He effortlessly transports the reader into the past. He also brings forth the questions of the time: What were the motivations of King Fernando and Queen Ysabel? Were they simply religious fanatics, or were financial considerations the primary reason for supporting the Inquisition and the ultimate expulsion of the Jews from Spain?
Kaplan writes in his author’s note at the end of the book:
The purpose of a historical novel is to locate and reveal the dramatic core of history.
If that is the purpose, then I would congratulate Kaplan on achieving it. By Fire, By Water is a must read for historical fiction fans, especially those interested in fifteenth century Spain.
Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member amusingmother
This historical novel is set in the pivotal time period of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World, the New Inquisition, conquest of Granada, and expulsion of Jews from Spain.
Here's the scoop - Isabella and Ferdinand are the ruling sovereigns of Spain. There is general mistrust in the
Mistrust is a far too weak of a word for the feelings of converts by Christians. Paranoia is much more accurate. Tomas de Torquemada had the fantastic idea to start an Inquisition. Except his idea of an inquisition was not to merely inquire of one's beliefs, but to torture, in the most brutal of ways, the accused until s/he confessed and named names. Anybody could accuse another. All were fair game.
The novel includes a scenario where the protagonist and a few others casually study Judaism. One of the men is arrested, tortured, and dies before his "trial." Meanwhile, there is a transcript of his confessed sins. The best way to deal with this transcript is to steal it and kill the inquisitor, Pedro de Arbues. The group of men hire another to murder to inquisitor.
True to history, Arbues is murdered in a cathedral. The Inquisition plants the belief that the murderers were conversos and the Inquisition becomes something from a Freddie Krueger movie. Santangel is a suspect and his family is obliterated. Okay, that was spoiler without an alert. Sorry about that. But that is historically correct.
Meanwhile, Christopher Columbus is attempting to obtain financing and ships to explore his hypothesis that India can be reached by sailing west. Not only that, but Columbus holds in his possession ancient Jewish writings. One of which being apocryphal and quite dangerous. Columbus continues to use the ties he has with Luis to gain acceptance and funding for his exploration.
Of course, an Inquisition tends to be quite expensive. The king and queen are not prepared to finance such lunacy as sailing "around" the world. Okay, that last part I exaggerated. It was becoming quite fashionable to accept that the earth was not flat. Isabella and Ferdinand, being a bit on the paranoid side, decided it was time to stake their claim on Granada and drive out all the Jews.
This is where the fictitious Judith enters the story. Judith represents the Jewish people in Granada. She is Jewish but also Spanish. Through her experiences, the reader will understand how the Crown treated the Jews at this time.
I can not believe this is Mitch Kaplan's first novel. The time period is so intricate yet he weaves each of the conflicts together through the protagonist. Without being superfluous, he describes the beauty of Spain, along with the architecture, in a visceral manner. The story moves along succinctly yet includes all the necessary information to understand the conflict and history. Kaplan is a screenwriter and, I swear, I heard the orchestra crescendo at the end of certain scenes. The history is incredibly well researched. The novel is intriguing yet does not detract from history, which is interesting by itself. And extremely gross. Torture on "the rack" and death by burning described in detail.
Reviewer's editorial on irony: This period of history is not one I knew well, by any means. I found it fascinating (with the help of a great book) and realized the irony of what was not included in this book because it was not relevant to this story.
Henry VIII of England had six wives. His first wife could not produce a viable son so he wanted to divorce her. Of course, Catholicism frowned on that so Henry decided to start his own Christian-like church where he would be the pope equivalent. So he put his first wife away with their daughter, Mary so that he could marry the saucy, and eventually headless, Anne Boleyn. Plus four more. Anne is the mother of Queen Elizabeth who remained true to the Church of England. Her sister, from Henry's first marriage, was Mary. Bloody Mary who was maniacal about Catholicism.
Mary's mother just happened to be Catherine of Aragon, youngest daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella.
I swear I just saw a guy in a hockey mask go across the screen.
This book was provided by author in exchange for an honest review. I can't help that I thought the book was excellent.
Here's the scoop - Isabella and Ferdinand are the ruling sovereigns of Spain. There is general mistrust in the
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country regarding the coverted Jews to Christianity. The protagonist, Luis de Santangel, is an actual man who consorted with Christopher Columbus, held an office in the court of Isabella and Ferdinand, and was Jewish by blood, although not by belief, necessarily. Mistrust is a far too weak of a word for the feelings of converts by Christians. Paranoia is much more accurate. Tomas de Torquemada had the fantastic idea to start an Inquisition. Except his idea of an inquisition was not to merely inquire of one's beliefs, but to torture, in the most brutal of ways, the accused until s/he confessed and named names. Anybody could accuse another. All were fair game.
The novel includes a scenario where the protagonist and a few others casually study Judaism. One of the men is arrested, tortured, and dies before his "trial." Meanwhile, there is a transcript of his confessed sins. The best way to deal with this transcript is to steal it and kill the inquisitor, Pedro de Arbues. The group of men hire another to murder to inquisitor.
True to history, Arbues is murdered in a cathedral. The Inquisition plants the belief that the murderers were conversos and the Inquisition becomes something from a Freddie Krueger movie. Santangel is a suspect and his family is obliterated. Okay, that was spoiler without an alert. Sorry about that. But that is historically correct.
Meanwhile, Christopher Columbus is attempting to obtain financing and ships to explore his hypothesis that India can be reached by sailing west. Not only that, but Columbus holds in his possession ancient Jewish writings. One of which being apocryphal and quite dangerous. Columbus continues to use the ties he has with Luis to gain acceptance and funding for his exploration.
Of course, an Inquisition tends to be quite expensive. The king and queen are not prepared to finance such lunacy as sailing "around" the world. Okay, that last part I exaggerated. It was becoming quite fashionable to accept that the earth was not flat. Isabella and Ferdinand, being a bit on the paranoid side, decided it was time to stake their claim on Granada and drive out all the Jews.
This is where the fictitious Judith enters the story. Judith represents the Jewish people in Granada. She is Jewish but also Spanish. Through her experiences, the reader will understand how the Crown treated the Jews at this time.
I can not believe this is Mitch Kaplan's first novel. The time period is so intricate yet he weaves each of the conflicts together through the protagonist. Without being superfluous, he describes the beauty of Spain, along with the architecture, in a visceral manner. The story moves along succinctly yet includes all the necessary information to understand the conflict and history. Kaplan is a screenwriter and, I swear, I heard the orchestra crescendo at the end of certain scenes. The history is incredibly well researched. The novel is intriguing yet does not detract from history, which is interesting by itself. And extremely gross. Torture on "the rack" and death by burning described in detail.
Reviewer's editorial on irony: This period of history is not one I knew well, by any means. I found it fascinating (with the help of a great book) and realized the irony of what was not included in this book because it was not relevant to this story.
Henry VIII of England had six wives. His first wife could not produce a viable son so he wanted to divorce her. Of course, Catholicism frowned on that so Henry decided to start his own Christian-like church where he would be the pope equivalent. So he put his first wife away with their daughter, Mary so that he could marry the saucy, and eventually headless, Anne Boleyn. Plus four more. Anne is the mother of Queen Elizabeth who remained true to the Church of England. Her sister, from Henry's first marriage, was Mary. Bloody Mary who was maniacal about Catholicism.
Mary's mother just happened to be Catherine of Aragon, youngest daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella.
I swear I just saw a guy in a hockey mask go across the screen.
This book was provided by author in exchange for an honest review. I can't help that I thought the book was excellent.
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LibraryThing member jcwlib
**Full Disclosure: Received this book via a First Author event at ALA Annual Conference in June**
Set in 15th century Spain, By Fire By Water gives a full examination of the crisis of faith at the hear of the Spanish Inquisition. Told from the perspective of the conversos who are torn between the
Luis de Santangel, chancellor to the court in Aragon, starts to meet with a priest and one of his aides in secret debating the philosophies of different religions. The aide, who is a practicing Jew, gets questioned by the Chief Inquisitor of Aragon. Under pressure he gives up information about the meetings causing Luis and the priest to plot and kill the Inquistor. From the moment of the murder, Luis and his son Gabriel are on the run. Luis leaves Gabriel with his brother Estefan and moves on to be with the King who is fighting a war against the Muslims.
Gabriel and Estefan get picked up by the Grand Inquistor. Estefan ends up being tortured and put in jail. Gabriel decides to become a priest a "confess" his "sins". Luis is forced to give up any relationship with either of them.
Judith, a Jew living in Grenada, learns the silver making trade after her brother and wife die trying to escape religious persecution. Levi, their son, and Naomi's father Baba Shlomo live with Judith. Her friend Dina teaches her languages and how to read and write. Luis meets Judith one night and is immediately attracted to her. She sets up a trade with Chris Colon (Christopher Columbus) to exchange her silver for supplies.
Luis ends up having to call in a favor with the King to escape the investigations of the Inquistor. Luis ends up fiancing Chris Colon's exploration to the new world. At the end of the book he is left with no family or lover, just a lifetime of service to the court.
I enjoyed this book because it told the Christopher Columbus story from a different angle. Plus the book really challenged my views on different religions and brought the Spanish Inquisition alive. It's easy to forget that being able to worship in any means that you want is a freedom that took many years in coming. And a freedom that not everyone is able to enjoy. I picked up this book on a whim after listening to Mitchell speak at the conference. While it wasn't the one of the first books from the conference that I read, I will say its one of the better ARC that I picked up from the conference.
Set in 15th century Spain, By Fire By Water gives a full examination of the crisis of faith at the hear of the Spanish Inquisition. Told from the perspective of the conversos who are torn between the
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religion they left behind and the conversion meant to ensure their safety.Luis de Santangel, chancellor to the court in Aragon, starts to meet with a priest and one of his aides in secret debating the philosophies of different religions. The aide, who is a practicing Jew, gets questioned by the Chief Inquisitor of Aragon. Under pressure he gives up information about the meetings causing Luis and the priest to plot and kill the Inquistor. From the moment of the murder, Luis and his son Gabriel are on the run. Luis leaves Gabriel with his brother Estefan and moves on to be with the King who is fighting a war against the Muslims.
Gabriel and Estefan get picked up by the Grand Inquistor. Estefan ends up being tortured and put in jail. Gabriel decides to become a priest a "confess" his "sins". Luis is forced to give up any relationship with either of them.
Judith, a Jew living in Grenada, learns the silver making trade after her brother and wife die trying to escape religious persecution. Levi, their son, and Naomi's father Baba Shlomo live with Judith. Her friend Dina teaches her languages and how to read and write. Luis meets Judith one night and is immediately attracted to her. She sets up a trade with Chris Colon (Christopher Columbus) to exchange her silver for supplies.
Luis ends up having to call in a favor with the King to escape the investigations of the Inquistor. Luis ends up fiancing Chris Colon's exploration to the new world. At the end of the book he is left with no family or lover, just a lifetime of service to the court.
I enjoyed this book because it told the Christopher Columbus story from a different angle. Plus the book really challenged my views on different religions and brought the Spanish Inquisition alive. It's easy to forget that being able to worship in any means that you want is a freedom that took many years in coming. And a freedom that not everyone is able to enjoy. I picked up this book on a whim after listening to Mitchell speak at the conference. While it wasn't the one of the first books from the conference that I read, I will say its one of the better ARC that I picked up from the conference.
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LibraryThing member coffeeandabookchick
Historical Fiction at Its Finest.
The Inquisition was a tribunal set by the Roman Catholics for uncovering heresy, and which initially started during the medieval time period in France. It subsequently made its way to Spain in the late 1400s, and focused on Jews and New Christians. Queen Isabel and
Two days with Mitchell James Kaplan's debut novel, By Fire, By Water has made me so energized to learn more about this time period, that I'm scrambling for additional knowledge. There are so many characters that I absolutely loved, and some that I completely and thoroughly despised because of their participation in such a sordid event. All, though, are plagued with an internal battle of right and wrong, and some deal with it in an honest and ethical manner in the spirit of ultimate discussion and the meeting of the minds, while some betrayed the very nature of humanity and instead became a vile part of history.
Mitchell James Kaplan has done what incredible historical fiction does best -- he has centered a story around a monumental event in history, attached to it etched in time real people, and crafted a meaningful and captivating tale of life in the late 14th century. There is terror, betrayal, love, and most especially, loss.
And my heart absolutely broke in two at the end. I highly recommend this book and am excited to read more from this author.
The Inquisition was a tribunal set by the Roman Catholics for uncovering heresy, and which initially started during the medieval time period in France. It subsequently made its way to Spain in the late 1400s, and focused on Jews and New Christians. Queen Isabel and
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King Ferdinand petitioned the Pope to establish the tribunals and Inquisition, and once approved, the beginning of a period of sadness began, with the eventual expulsion of all Jews in 1492 from Spain. Why have I only heard in quick passing the Inquisition and the actual horrors that surrounded this event? Sure, I know a little bit about this tragic event in history, but do I really know enough?Two days with Mitchell James Kaplan's debut novel, By Fire, By Water has made me so energized to learn more about this time period, that I'm scrambling for additional knowledge. There are so many characters that I absolutely loved, and some that I completely and thoroughly despised because of their participation in such a sordid event. All, though, are plagued with an internal battle of right and wrong, and some deal with it in an honest and ethical manner in the spirit of ultimate discussion and the meeting of the minds, while some betrayed the very nature of humanity and instead became a vile part of history.
Mitchell James Kaplan has done what incredible historical fiction does best -- he has centered a story around a monumental event in history, attached to it etched in time real people, and crafted a meaningful and captivating tale of life in the late 14th century. There is terror, betrayal, love, and most especially, loss.
And my heart absolutely broke in two at the end. I highly recommend this book and am excited to read more from this author.
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LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
The Spanish Inquisition looms large in Kaplan's By Fire, By Water. The central character, Luis de Santangel, a powerful courtier to the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, is a Christian of Jewish descent who begins to rediscover the faith of his ancestors in the course of the novel. He also
However, Luis goes to great lengths to protect his appearance of a dutiful Christian servant of the King and to avoid running afoul of the Inquisition, even taking some morally questionable actions.
I greatly enjoyed this novel, but its conclusion was far from happy. The characters suffer a great deal in this novel, as might be expected in consideration of the themes. The author has also maintained a good deal of historical accuracy, which makes the characters feel more believable and real.
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becomes involved with a Jewish woman living in the Muslim state of Grenada, Judith Migdal. However, Luis goes to great lengths to protect his appearance of a dutiful Christian servant of the King and to avoid running afoul of the Inquisition, even taking some morally questionable actions.
I greatly enjoyed this novel, but its conclusion was far from happy. The characters suffer a great deal in this novel, as might be expected in consideration of the themes. The author has also maintained a good deal of historical accuracy, which makes the characters feel more believable and real.
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LibraryThing member blodeuedd
This was such a beautifully written book, readers often say that it felt like they were there. But this one truly brought that out. There was a movie slowly playing in my head while reading this book.
Luis de Santángel is rich and powerful, but three generations back he was a Jew and being a Jew or
The history in this book about how he starts having these talk about the Jewish faith, then another man joins, and there things get out of control. Suffering will follow. I could go on and on about religion and so on. But I will keep it short and say that some people back then were idiots for the things they believed, I wanted to go back and shout at them. And then I would have been burnt at the stake. The things done and said in religion are the things that truly make me lose faith in mankind. Ok I will end it there before I go all philosophical.
There is also a hint of romance, he meets a silver-smith, a Jewess in Granada. But Granada is about to fall soon because Ferdinand and Isabella wants a Christian kingdom that covers the whole of Spain.
It's a story about faith, murder, persecution, and the idea about the Garden of Eden and how Christopher Columbus meant to find it.
In the end it is one of those times that I just feel that my words alone cannot bring justice to this book.
Recommendation and final thoughts:
I do love language, and hear that really shines through. He has written a book that echoes times gone by. He brings a presence to this book and I read little by little, not too much at once. This is a book to read slowly.
This is a book for all historical fictions fans, and the rest of you that appreciate a well-written book and story.
Reason for reading:
Everyone loved this book, and that sure made me curious.
Luis de Santángel is rich and powerful, but three generations back he was a Jew and being a Jew or
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of Jewish origin in 15th century Spain is dangerous. Converted Jews are being hunted, those still holding on to their faith suffer under taxes. The Spanish inquisition was truly cruel. It is an era I have not actually read about before and it brings danger and drama, it gives flavour to this book.The history in this book about how he starts having these talk about the Jewish faith, then another man joins, and there things get out of control. Suffering will follow. I could go on and on about religion and so on. But I will keep it short and say that some people back then were idiots for the things they believed, I wanted to go back and shout at them. And then I would have been burnt at the stake. The things done and said in religion are the things that truly make me lose faith in mankind. Ok I will end it there before I go all philosophical.
There is also a hint of romance, he meets a silver-smith, a Jewess in Granada. But Granada is about to fall soon because Ferdinand and Isabella wants a Christian kingdom that covers the whole of Spain.
It's a story about faith, murder, persecution, and the idea about the Garden of Eden and how Christopher Columbus meant to find it.
In the end it is one of those times that I just feel that my words alone cannot bring justice to this book.
Recommendation and final thoughts:
I do love language, and hear that really shines through. He has written a book that echoes times gone by. He brings a presence to this book and I read little by little, not too much at once. This is a book to read slowly.
This is a book for all historical fictions fans, and the rest of you that appreciate a well-written book and story.
Reason for reading:
Everyone loved this book, and that sure made me curious.
Show Less
LibraryThing member kw50197
Well-written and research. But not my cup of tea though.
LibraryThing member michcard
Eh. Hard to put down, but not as satisfying as I would have liked. I'll keep the book as I'd read it again, but it's bubblegum.
LibraryThing member Sara_Anderson
I was prepared to like this book. I truly was. Kaplan covers a lot of ground and has clearly done so by conducting vast amounts of research on his subjects: Christopher Columbus, Isabella & Ferdinand, the New Inquisition and the expulsion of Spain’s Jewish population. It felt to me, though, as if
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he has written this book only to sell the movie rights. The writing, while precise, is bloodless. I wanted very much to connect more deeply with Luis de Santangel and Judith Midgala, but I found I could not. Kaplan writes (cinematographically, as his background perhaps dictates) in short bursts of 200 and 300 words, with quick cuts to other scenes, which left me feeling distant from the characters. I wanted more than this book afforded. Show Less
LibraryThing member zibilee
Living in 15th century Spain, Luis de Santángel has just been caught in the cross-hairs of the new Inquisition. Santángel is a very wealthy and respected member of the community and also the chancellor to Fernando, the King of Aragon. But he is also a Jewish covert to Christianity, and when he
In the past few months, I have read quite a bit about the Inquisition and the effects it had on the people it persecuted. This has actually been a rather new area for me to study, and the more I'm exposed to it in the books I read, the more questions I have. What I really liked about this book was the way the repercussions for those affected were examined with great depth and sensitivity. After finally closing the book for the last time, I really felt it was the best representation of those fateful events that I could have sought out and read.
From the outset, it was clear to me that Luis de Santángel had an extremely comfortable life. Aside from his wealth and position, he had a family that loved and supported him, and I can imagine that it wasn't bad to have the king's ear and attention when he needed it. But Luis was hungering for something that he didn't have access to in his everyday life. He wanted answers about the faith that he was forced to leave behind, knowing that seeking these answers would endanger everything he held dear. I don't even think it was a matter of Luis wanting to convert back to Judaism. I think it was more a way for him to hold on to the values and ideals of his ancestors and a way for him to puzzle out some of the deeper questions he had about God. Luis' was a quest for knowledge, but in its discovery, his intentions got misconstrued and perverted. Although he tried to mitigate the disaster, the powers against him were too strong to resist successfully.
The representation of the Inquisition brought forth a lot of questions while I was reading. How does one man, or one group of men, come to believe that they can accurately police the spirituality that lives in another's soul? Indeed, what would God think about this? My religious education has taught me that God is a being of mercy and love who forgives those with sincerity in their hearts. But the Inquisitors had no room for mercy or forgiveness, and dealt with people brutally, leaving no room for those who were spiritually adrift or who questioned their faith. These men had an agenda that I believe was not from God, and I began to feel that all their punishments were only meant to dominate and subjugate those who they felt were spiritually unworthy. I can't imagine living in a time where your inner motives are constantly suspect and where another person has the right to torture you or take your life due to perceived spiritual discrepancies. It was was a shameful time, filled with shameful men who knew nothing about the love and forgiveness of God.
I also really liked the dual narrative half that focused on the life of Judith Migdal. She was a worthy heroine who embodied a clarity of purpose and an inner strength that I admired. When faced with a problem, Judith was resourceful and optimistic and she has great loyalty to those in her sphere. Pairing her with Luis also seemed like a brilliant move because both of them had similar strengths and resoluteness. Though they came from very different spiritual backgrounds, they were able to see beyond these things and get to the core of each other rather quickly. The fact that Luis became enamored of Judith was another danger that he took upon himself, but to him, this risk seemed to be of small consequence. The intertwining of these two characters gave the story an added layer of depth and resonance. I would have liked to have seen a more hopeful resolution to the story of Judith and Luis, but somehow what Kaplan did felt more realistic and faithful to the times he was describing.
Call me naïve, but it actually took me some time to figure out that the Cristobal Colon that was discussed in the narrative was none other than Christopher Columbus. It did became very clear in later sections, but for the first half of the story, it went by almost unnoticed. I liked the way that Kaplan fit Columbus into the story, and in his creation, Columbus came off as not only an adventurer but a scholar and a loyal friend. I was also surprised to learn that Luis (who was also a real historical figure) was the main financier for Columbus' trip to the Indies, and had it not been for him, the world may have been a different place today. This is one of the reasons I really enjoy well-written and researched historical fiction. It fills in the gaps in my education in a way that is inviting to read about and gives me a much more rounded and balanced picture of historical events and the way they played out.
As a reader and lover of historical fiction, I get very excited when I feel that a book has accurately and skillfully represented the times it describes. This book did that perfectly for me and I think other readers of historical fiction would also glean a great deal from it. Kaplan not only handles his history well, he also creates characters that are easy to identify with and care for, which made this book an engrossing read. The style of the writing was also very tight and fluid, which is something that earns it extra points in my book. If you are in any way interested in the events and place that Kaplan features so wonderfully in his book, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend picking up a copy and giving it a try. A great and absorbing read.
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begins to cast about looking for information and edification of his forgotten and displaced faith, he and his family are put into great danger. Though Santángel tries to exercise discretion and stealth in regards to his new curiosity, he attracts the attention of Thomas Torquemada, the leader of the new Inquisition, who goes to great and torturous lengths to punish both nonbelievers and those who he believes to be escaping from the fold. As Spain struggles to dominate and unify its kingdoms under severe Christian rule and Christopher Columbus petitions Ysabel and Fernando to finance a trip to the prosperous Indies, Santángel's once envious life begins to unravel. Meanwhile, Judith Migdal, a Jewish woman living in Granada, is facing her own trials. After losing half her family to tragedy, Judith must reorganize her life and learn the difficult craft of silversmithing in order to provide for the remaining family members. When a chance meeting between Santángel and Judith occurs, the two are inexplicably drawn towards one another, forcing each to examine the strength of their beliefs and the ways in which their futures may intersect. In this intricately crafted and exceptionally researched new historical novel, Kaplan brings to life a cast of characters who are caught in the craze of a dangerous religious fervor and explores the way in which those people remain true to themselves and to those that they love.In the past few months, I have read quite a bit about the Inquisition and the effects it had on the people it persecuted. This has actually been a rather new area for me to study, and the more I'm exposed to it in the books I read, the more questions I have. What I really liked about this book was the way the repercussions for those affected were examined with great depth and sensitivity. After finally closing the book for the last time, I really felt it was the best representation of those fateful events that I could have sought out and read.
From the outset, it was clear to me that Luis de Santángel had an extremely comfortable life. Aside from his wealth and position, he had a family that loved and supported him, and I can imagine that it wasn't bad to have the king's ear and attention when he needed it. But Luis was hungering for something that he didn't have access to in his everyday life. He wanted answers about the faith that he was forced to leave behind, knowing that seeking these answers would endanger everything he held dear. I don't even think it was a matter of Luis wanting to convert back to Judaism. I think it was more a way for him to hold on to the values and ideals of his ancestors and a way for him to puzzle out some of the deeper questions he had about God. Luis' was a quest for knowledge, but in its discovery, his intentions got misconstrued and perverted. Although he tried to mitigate the disaster, the powers against him were too strong to resist successfully.
The representation of the Inquisition brought forth a lot of questions while I was reading. How does one man, or one group of men, come to believe that they can accurately police the spirituality that lives in another's soul? Indeed, what would God think about this? My religious education has taught me that God is a being of mercy and love who forgives those with sincerity in their hearts. But the Inquisitors had no room for mercy or forgiveness, and dealt with people brutally, leaving no room for those who were spiritually adrift or who questioned their faith. These men had an agenda that I believe was not from God, and I began to feel that all their punishments were only meant to dominate and subjugate those who they felt were spiritually unworthy. I can't imagine living in a time where your inner motives are constantly suspect and where another person has the right to torture you or take your life due to perceived spiritual discrepancies. It was was a shameful time, filled with shameful men who knew nothing about the love and forgiveness of God.
I also really liked the dual narrative half that focused on the life of Judith Migdal. She was a worthy heroine who embodied a clarity of purpose and an inner strength that I admired. When faced with a problem, Judith was resourceful and optimistic and she has great loyalty to those in her sphere. Pairing her with Luis also seemed like a brilliant move because both of them had similar strengths and resoluteness. Though they came from very different spiritual backgrounds, they were able to see beyond these things and get to the core of each other rather quickly. The fact that Luis became enamored of Judith was another danger that he took upon himself, but to him, this risk seemed to be of small consequence. The intertwining of these two characters gave the story an added layer of depth and resonance. I would have liked to have seen a more hopeful resolution to the story of Judith and Luis, but somehow what Kaplan did felt more realistic and faithful to the times he was describing.
Call me naïve, but it actually took me some time to figure out that the Cristobal Colon that was discussed in the narrative was none other than Christopher Columbus. It did became very clear in later sections, but for the first half of the story, it went by almost unnoticed. I liked the way that Kaplan fit Columbus into the story, and in his creation, Columbus came off as not only an adventurer but a scholar and a loyal friend. I was also surprised to learn that Luis (who was also a real historical figure) was the main financier for Columbus' trip to the Indies, and had it not been for him, the world may have been a different place today. This is one of the reasons I really enjoy well-written and researched historical fiction. It fills in the gaps in my education in a way that is inviting to read about and gives me a much more rounded and balanced picture of historical events and the way they played out.
As a reader and lover of historical fiction, I get very excited when I feel that a book has accurately and skillfully represented the times it describes. This book did that perfectly for me and I think other readers of historical fiction would also glean a great deal from it. Kaplan not only handles his history well, he also creates characters that are easy to identify with and care for, which made this book an engrossing read. The style of the writing was also very tight and fluid, which is something that earns it extra points in my book. If you are in any way interested in the events and place that Kaplan features so wonderfully in his book, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend picking up a copy and giving it a try. A great and absorbing read.
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LibraryThing member bolgai
I am absolutely delighted to tell you about this book because this is one of those rare reads where everything is just right. A while back the author contacted me asking for a review of his debut novel and having never read anything set in Spain of that era I decided to give it a try. Reading it
I really enjoyed the characters of the honorable Luis de Santangel, the resilient Judith, and the supporting cast who all played a role in the events. Sometimes it would seem that a completely new character was introduced for no observable reason but then time would pass and this seemingly-insignificant character's contribution would become obvious, be it to further the plot, make the setting more vivid, or aid in the development of the main characters. No character arc was left incomplete and seeing them all develop was deeply satisfying.
This isn't really a straightforward set the goal - overcome difficulties - achieve the goal type of novel. Cristobal Colon's endeavor to obtain the monarchs' support in sailing to India is a secondary plot. It is the life of Luis de Santangel and his struggle with his heritage at a time when practicing anything other than Christianity was a sure way to the stake is at the foreground of this story. The life of Judith and her family provides an excellent contrast by giving us a glimpse of a life the Jewish community had in Muslim Granada.
Mr. Kaplan spent six years doing research for this book and the work he's done brings a lot of credibility to the novel. The details shine through on every page and fortunately he didn't let history and theological debate overpower the story, at the end of the day it was still about Luis, Judith and their loved ones.
Usually at this point I talk about things that didn't work for me. Today there isn't anything for me to say. Go get this book. Read it. Enjoy it. This is a quality novel that is worth reading regardless of whether you're a fan of historical fiction or not.
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last week I congratulated myself on this decision more than once. This is an intelligent, well-written novel that combines drama, history, politics and, to a lesser degree, romance. I really enjoyed the characters of the honorable Luis de Santangel, the resilient Judith, and the supporting cast who all played a role in the events. Sometimes it would seem that a completely new character was introduced for no observable reason but then time would pass and this seemingly-insignificant character's contribution would become obvious, be it to further the plot, make the setting more vivid, or aid in the development of the main characters. No character arc was left incomplete and seeing them all develop was deeply satisfying.
This isn't really a straightforward set the goal - overcome difficulties - achieve the goal type of novel. Cristobal Colon's endeavor to obtain the monarchs' support in sailing to India is a secondary plot. It is the life of Luis de Santangel and his struggle with his heritage at a time when practicing anything other than Christianity was a sure way to the stake is at the foreground of this story. The life of Judith and her family provides an excellent contrast by giving us a glimpse of a life the Jewish community had in Muslim Granada.
Mr. Kaplan spent six years doing research for this book and the work he's done brings a lot of credibility to the novel. The details shine through on every page and fortunately he didn't let history and theological debate overpower the story, at the end of the day it was still about Luis, Judith and their loved ones.
Usually at this point I talk about things that didn't work for me. Today there isn't anything for me to say. Go get this book. Read it. Enjoy it. This is a quality novel that is worth reading regardless of whether you're a fan of historical fiction or not.
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LibraryThing member Elysianfield
Luis de Santángel is chancellor to King Fernando (Ferdinand) of Aragon but he is also a third generation Christian, converso, but when the Spanish Inquisition starts in full force it’s not safe to have Jewish connections. At the same time Luis grows curious about his Jewish heritage and starts
We also hear the story of Judith, a Jewish silversmith, who catches Luis’ eyes. Luis falls in love with her but is he willing to give up everything for her?
I’m not very familiar with Spanish Inquisition or Jewish religion and the little I know about Inquisition comes from reading Katherine of Aragon’s childhood. It is not a pleasant subject giving the worst example of humanity but it’s fascinating in a horrible way.
By Fire, By Water is certainly very thought provoking and well researched. While the books has lot of religious themes and has theological discussions it manages to not sound preachy.
It’s not action packed but gives one man’s journey while trying to find who he is and remaining true to himself.
The only minor problem I had was with the time. I wish it would have been stated better how much time had went on or mentioned on what year was going on.
What a great debut from Kaplan! I truly enjoyed this and couldn’t put it down.Can’t wait to read more from this author!
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to see theologian in secret but soon catches the eyes of inquisitor and soon finds out that he or his family isn’t safe. We also hear the story of Judith, a Jewish silversmith, who catches Luis’ eyes. Luis falls in love with her but is he willing to give up everything for her?
I’m not very familiar with Spanish Inquisition or Jewish religion and the little I know about Inquisition comes from reading Katherine of Aragon’s childhood. It is not a pleasant subject giving the worst example of humanity but it’s fascinating in a horrible way.
By Fire, By Water is certainly very thought provoking and well researched. While the books has lot of religious themes and has theological discussions it manages to not sound preachy.
It’s not action packed but gives one man’s journey while trying to find who he is and remaining true to himself.
The only minor problem I had was with the time. I wish it would have been stated better how much time had went on or mentioned on what year was going on.
What a great debut from Kaplan! I truly enjoyed this and couldn’t put it down.Can’t wait to read more from this author!
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LibraryThing member cyderry
This book is a story of the Spanish Inquisition showing the intolerance of the Catholics toward the Jewish population and how the Jews banded together to help each other. It amazed me when I think of what Christ, who was so kind and forgiving, would have thought, felt and done to aid the Jews.
LibraryThing member jenzbaker
Santangel, a convert to Christianity, finds his loved ones implicated in a murder. His faith in Judaism is reignited, he falls in love, meets Christopher Columbus who offers S a chance to travel to the new world.Interesting story of insidiousness of fear and bgiotry. Immersive in 15th century
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Spain, at all levels of society Show Less
Awards
Independent Publisher Book Awards (Gold — Historical Fiction — 2011)
Eric Hoffer Book Award (Honorable Mention — General Fiction — 2011)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2010
Physical description
284 p.; 5.5 inches
ISBN
1590513525 / 9781590513521
Local notes
2011-12 Reading Circle Selection