David, son of a wealthy Jewish Greek fabric merchant, befriends Miguel, a Jewish Spanish refugee from the Inquisition. Miguel and his family must adjust to the different customs of the local Jewish population, and David’s family must learn how to accept the newcomers.
While the exotic customs described in the story are mildly interesting, the lack of any real plot makes for a slow read. The story’s tension mainly comes from the distrust between the different ethnic Jewish communities, and from a temporary falling out between David and Miguel. The language is formal and flat, and lacks the spark of life. The author has obviously done a great deal of research… but this obviousness makes the book read like a lesson.
The book will probably appeal most to Jewish readers of Greek or Spanish descent, but may be of limited interest to others.
