As meticulously researched as all of Brooks' previous work, People of the Book is a gripping and moving novel about war, art, love and survival. When Hanna Heath gets a call in the middle of the night in her Sydney home about a precious medieval manuscript that has been recovered from the smouldering ruins of war-torn Sarajevo, she knows she is on the brink of the experience of a lifetime. A renowned book conservator, she must now make her way to Bosnia to start work on restoring the Sarajevo Haggadah - a Jewish prayer ...
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As meticulously researched as all of Brooks' previous work, People of the Book is a gripping and moving novel about war, art, love and survival. When Hanna Heath gets a call in the middle of the night in her Sydney home about a precious medieval manuscript that has been recovered from the smouldering ruins of war-torn Sarajevo, she knows she is on the brink of the experience of a lifetime. A renowned book conservator, she must now make her way to Bosnia to start work on restoring the Sarajevo Haggadah - a Jewish prayer book - to discover its secrets and piece together the story of its miraculous survival. But the trip will also set in motion a series of events that threaten to rock Hanna's orderly life, including her encounter with Ozren Karamen, the young librarian who risked his life to save the book. As meticulously researched as all of Brooks' previous work, People of the Book is a gripping and moving novel about war, art, love and survival. Shortlisted for the 2009 Prime Minister's Literary Awards. Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year. 'an imaginative tour de force' Good Weekend 'intelligent, thoughtful, gracefully written and original' Washington Post 'a fearless and engaging writer' Courier-Mail
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Add this copy of People of the Book to cart. $12.38, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2008 by Penguin Books.
I couldn't wait to turn the page. It is a well written, wonderful journey. I also recommend other words by this author, Geraldine Brooks and her husband, Tony Horwitz.
Jane T
Apr 26, 2012
Worth Reading
The history is well-researched and excellent. The romantic aspects of the plot a bit sappy. Brooks' background as a journalist usually stands her in good stead. Liked other books of hers better. My book group read it and were pretty well in accord about this book.
Laurie D
Sep 7, 2011
Fantastic Historical Fiction
This book is about the people, who possibly illuminated, wrote and protected the Sarajevo Haggadah, through its history. Believed to have been written it 15th century Spain, it now resides in the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
The story starts with a rare book expert Hanna, who is hired to analyze and catalog the manuscript, she finds within the binding several artifacts, an insect wing, wine stains, salt and a white hair. From there the book goes back in time to how each of these items may have come to end up in the book. The chapters alternate between present day (1996) to the years that these items may have come to be. A very rich and vivid history of the religions of these times Jewish, Islamic & Christian, how at times they existed in harmony and others at in total war.
Robert M
Dec 16, 2010
Transport yourself across 500 years
A wonderful journey from the perspective of many voices A great read.
jaine R
Aug 8, 2010
loved reading a fresh idea
i really enjoyed this book. frequently we read the same stories over and over again. this was a historical fiction presented in a new way and what might have been. the story was well crafted and hard to put down
