The Slave

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Summary: 18th century poland love story
Review: a love story between a stranded jew in 18th century poland and a christian woman. inner most thoughts of guilt are expertly handled in this plot

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Summary: Excellent detailed descriptions of dreadful feudal Poland
Review: A most beautiful, elegant protrayal of life in a time long past when the heart and soul was held in great esteem. Spells are cast and prayers are recited for a love and passion that is stronger than the physical realm.

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Summary: The Slave: Or Love's Firm Hold
Review: A most beautiful, elegant protrayal of life in a time long past when the heart and soul was held in great esteem. Spells are cast and prayers are recited for a love and passion that is stronger than the physical realm.

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Summary: a treasure
Review: A wonderfully-written story of spiritual and romantic love.

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Summary: Incredible story of faith during a murderous time
Review: An incredible story of faith and love during a very murderous time in history. The protagonist questions the existence of a God and yet holds on to his faith.

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Summary: Excellent detailed descriptions of dreadful feudal Poland
Review: Book club loved it. We laughed. We cried. So glad we didn't live in 18th century Poland as poor people. Clever and realist portrayal of an individual struggle with temptation. And critical description of man's inhumanity without sparing either side. Read also, "A Day of Pleasure" Singer's memoirs as a boy in Warsaw. Sheds some light.

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Summary: A touching treasure
Review: I had to read this novel for a college class on Ethics, and it has become one of my all-time favorites. It's subtle, moving, and handles deep moral and philosophical issues without feeling like "heavy" reading. Read it just for the pleasure of a beautiful love story; or study it deeply and gain wisdom and compassion. An excellent gift for a romance novel-reading friend as an introduction to fine literature.

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Summary: Thought provoking and deep - wow
Review: The Slave by Nobel prize winner Isaac Bashevis Singer is probably one of the most profound books I ever read. Yep, no kidding.

The Slave is basically the story of a Jew man stranded somewhere in 18th century Poland by the diaspora. On his own living in a Christian village, our protagonist desperately tries to hold on to his religion by reciting psalms and performing all the rituals to the letter so as to not forget them and offend god. He says that the only way someone could tell he was a Jew was his circumcision - he had none of the garments, scriptures and objects that could point that out. He even would engrave on a stone all that he could remember from the Holy books.

He eventually leaves the village and runs across a number of people of different backgrounds and meets and falls in love with a gentile women. He takes her with him in search of his people and eventually runs into a very "proper" Jewish community. They did everything "by the book", showing immense respect and doing all the right things to be "good". But he soon realizes that so many people were filled with hypocrisy, spite, and deception that you wouldn't expect from such "quality" folk. Of course, he must hide the true former religion (she converts for him) of his wife for it was nearly impossible to convert in those days. And while she is the kindest person, she is soon despised by the community... So even though these people looked perfect on the outside were not nearly as good to the higher being that they supposedly worshipped while the woman that had nothing to do with the community was the kindest person.

Singer, who writes in Yiddish and then supervises the translation, writes a very powerful book that really transcends religion. One might think that this is very "Jewish". Sure it is, but that's not the point. It will make many people look at themselves and make them realize that doing everything "by the book", whether it be religion or just life, doesn't mean that you are inherently a good person. The Slave is a fantastic novel that is fantastically written that I highly recommend.

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Summary: grat recomendation
Review: this book is the greatest book ive ever read. it is a powerfull love story set against the exotic background of seventeenth century poland. the slave has such a strong, compelling story to tell that its appeal is both contemporary and universal.... "it's a beautiful story"