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Belonging

The Story of the Jews 1492–1900
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( 734 ratings, 94 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Belonging by Simon Schama explores the history of Jewish experience from 1492 to the late 20th century. Through a blend of storytelling and scholarly research, Schama delves into the challenges faced by Jewish communities, highlighting their perseverance and resilience in diverse cultural landscapes. This historical narrative offers insights into the complex interactions between Jewish and non-Jewish societies over the years.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're fascinated by the rich tapestry of Jewish history, culture, and identity. Simon Schama, a respected historian, offers a compelling narrative intertwining personal stories and grand historical events, making it a captivating read for anyone interested in the enduring journey of a resilient people.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A passionate history of a world unfolding across many continents and five centuries by one of our greatest and internationally bestselling historians.

A passionate history of Judaism; a world unfolding across many continents and five centuries by one of our greatest and internationally bestselling historians.

Belonging is a magnificent cultural history abundantly alive with energy, character and colour. From the Jews' expulsion from Spain in 1492, it tells the stories not just of rabbis and philosophers but of a poetess in the ghetto of Venice; a boxer in Georgian England; a general in Ming China; an opera composer in nineteenth-century Germany. The story unfolds in Kerala and Mantua, the starlit hills of Galilee, the rivers of Colombia, the kitchens of Istanbul, the taverns of Ukraine, and the mining camps of California. It sails in caravels, rides the stage coaches and the railways; trudges the dawn streets of London, hobbles along with the remnant of Napoleon's ruined army.

The Jewish story is a history that is about, and for, all of us. And in our own time of anxious arrivals and enforced departures, the Jews' search for a home is more startlingly resonant than ever.

'A magnificent achievement...' Jonathan Freedland, Guardian

'An extraordinary cultural journey, filled with astonishingly colourful and outrageous characters ... Schama delivers a superb and thrilling ride, both inspirational and tragic' Simon Sebag Montefiore, Mail on Sunday

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Belonging by Simon Schama is celebrated as a vibrant and scholarly exploration of Jewish history, praised for its vivid character portrayals. Reviewers highlight Schama's skill in depicting Jewish life with energy and defying typical historical narratives, offering instead a lively account filled with hope and resilience. The book is noted for its exceptional narrative power, with reviewers commending its rich detail, emotional depth, and Schama's role in revitalising Jewish history.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099590064

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 October 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage

Illustration: 3 plate sections

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 52.0mm

Width: 131.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 671g

Pages: 800

About the Author

Simon Schama is University Professor of Art History and History at Columbia University. His award-winning books, translated into fifteen languages, include Citizens, Landscape and Memory, Rembrandt's Eyes, A History of Britain, The Power of Art, Rough Crossings, The American Future, The Face of Britain and The Story of the Jews- Finding the Words (1000 BCE - 1492). His art columns for the New Yorker won the National Magazine Award for criticism and his journalism has appeared regularly in the Guardian and the Financial Times where he is Contributing Editor. He has written and presented more than fifty films for the BBC on subjects as diverse as Tolstoy, American politics, and The Story of the Jews and is co-presenter of a new landmark series on the history of world art, Civilisations.

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