Reviews for The Slave
Review - Slave, The
The story kept my interest. It was sad. Jacob was fervent in his faith, but mistaken. Not much more to say than that.
Reviewed by Roger on 2009-12-18 10:53:46
The Slaveby Isaac Bashevis Singer | |
| List(s): | "Racine Library List" |
|---|---|
| Category: |
"Fiction - General" |
| Pages: | 311 |
| Year of Publication: | 1962 |
| Date Added: | 04/29/2009 |
| Date Read: | 12/18/2009 |
| Notes: | Jacob was a pious Jew living in Poland. Cossacks attacked and killed his entire family. Jacob was sold as a slave to a Gentile peasant farmer. The peasant's daughter, Wanda, fell in love with Jacob and, after trying to resist for several years, Jacob returned her love. Several wealthy Jews from Jacob's old village buy him back. He returns to his people, but can't forget Wanda. He returns for her and they flee together — it is illegal for Gentiles to become Jews or for Gentiles and Jews to marry. Jacob teaches Wanda his faith and she believes. They travel to another town where Jacob is made a teacher. Wanda changes her name to Sarah, but because she can't speak Yiddish, they pass her off as mute. She dies in childbirth, but before she does, she talks and everyone realizes what she is. Jacob flees with the child. Wanda is buries in an unconsecrated grave. For 20 years, Jacob lives with his son in Israel, then returns to dig up Wanda's bones to bring them to the holy land. Nobody knows where her grave was. Jacob sickens and dies. When they dig his grave, Wanda's still-recognizable body is found and they are buried together. |
| My Rating: | 6 |