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Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Opulent prose, brave female characters and an emphasis on the importance of family and tradition distinguish the latest from bestselling Ragen (Jephte's Daughter). Catherine da Costa is a wealthy New York matron, secure in everything but the future. Having just learned she is to die soon, she fears the family tree will perish as well, since her two 20-something granddaughters, Suzanne and Francesca, are as yet unmarried. Then one night she is visited by a ghost from the distant past her eponymous Renaissance ancestor who urges Catherine to search for the missing pages of a manuscript she wrote. The text is a precious document detailing how, as a Sephardic Jew, she braved the terrors of the Inquisition and went on to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in the world. Using her own impending demise as emotional blackmail, Catherine sends the oil-and-water duo of Suzanne and Francesca one devoted to liberal causes, the other to business to Europe to hunt for the pages. Their journey leads to globe-trotting adventure, passionate romance, sibling reconciliation and a disclosure of Hannah's secrets for survival: endurance and faith. The fact that the Nasi-Mendes family is real, with descendants all over the world, adds depth to the fiction, and Ragen uses harrowing descriptions of torture to explain how family members could be forced to turn against one another to avoid the worst of the Inquisition. Moreover, she succeeds in driving home her message about the value of hanging onto cultural identity through maintaining a connection with history, thereby giving a sense of meaning to the present. Fans of her previous work will not be disappointed. Agent, Lisa Bankoff at ICM.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Suzanna and Francesca Abraham have never cared much about their Jewish heritage. But when their grandmother, Catherine da Costa, matriarch of an old Sephardic family, learns she is dying, she sets into motion a plan to bring her granddaughters back to their faith. Her scheme involves the lost pages of an ancient manuscript detailing the story of her family's exile from Spain during the Inquisition, including their false conversion to Christianity. The quest for the missing pages takes the sisters to Europe, where they meet the young men who will teach them about their roots and traditions and about love. The story told in the manuscript is brought to life by spirits and ghosts, especially that of Hannah Mendes, a real historical figure. Ragen (The Sacrifice of Tamar, LJ 9/15/94) beautifully articulates what Jews must do to survive in every generation. Highly recommended, especially for Jewish readers.?Barbara Maslekoff, Ohioana Lib., Columbus, OH
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
The street felt cold after Dr. Emil Weinsweig, Jr.'s elegantly overheated offices on Fifty-fourth Street and the Avenue of the Americas. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
The street felt cold after Dr. Emil Weinsweig, Jr.'s elegantly overheated offices on Fifty-fourth Street and the Avenue of the Americas. Read the first page
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
moving book about embracing deep cultural values,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Ghost of Hannah Mendes (Paperback)
Despite its imperfections, I loved this book - couldn't put it down, was moved to tears more than once, was left very thoughtful about my own identity, and enjoyed the wish-fulfillment fantasy of a grandmothter being able to help and bring wisdom and good marriages to her granddaughters. The historial background was fascinating.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A thoughtful romance based on historical facts,
By "annettelp" (West Chester, Ohio) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Ghost of Hannah Mendes (Paperback)
This book was a wonderful blend of romance and history. A story of one familie's history dating back to the 1400's and how their ancestor's sacrfices continue to play a part in the character's modern day lives. Although the book was sometimes difficult to follow due to jumping from 1400's characters to the present day characters , it still drew me in and made me anxious to find out more about the familie's deep history. The history lesson (which is based on true historical facts and a true family)intrigued me and peaked my interest in to the lives of the Jewish people who were forced to hide their faith for so long. Though, the love story was a little far fetched, I still found the book to be a very interesting and satisfying read.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful!,
By
This review is from: The Ghost of Hannah Mendes (Paperback)
This is my new favorite book! I love that she incorporated history and romance. I usually dislike most romantic novels-but this book focused more on the history. Very moving. I am glad to learn something of that time in history. I urge everyone to read it!
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