Books as History

Imagine a rare religious book is discovered in the aftermath of the Bosnian war in Sarajevo. This is how People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks begins. Dr. Hanna Heath is asked to assess the condition of the Sarajevo Haggadah and try to re-create its historical journey. The book holds religious connections for Jews, Christians and Muslims and therefore is an important find.

Brooks leads the reader back and forth from the present day research and Hanna’s personal story to the past where we enter into the historical episodes of each clue found from the book. The rose colored stains, insect wing, missing clasps, drop of salt and the white hair each hold their own historical story and the reader is transported backwards as each clue unfolds with this book ending at the beginning of the books journey in 1480 Seville.

This is a good read, especially for those who enjoy historical fiction.

To find this book in the Library go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org

Reviewed by Denise