Belonging: The Story of the Jews 1492–1900 (Story of the Jews Vol 2)
by Simon Schama CBE (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (546)
Book 2 of 2: The Story of the Jews
A passionate history of Judaism; a world unfolding across many continents and five centuries by one of our greatest and internationally bestselling historians.
Belonging is a magnificent cultural history abundantly alive with energy, character and colour. From the Jews’ expulsion from Spain in 1492 it tells the stories not just of rabbis and philosophers but of a poetess in the ghetto of Venice; a boxer in Georgian England; a general in Ming China; an opera composer in nineteenth-century Germany. The story unfolds in Kerala and Mantua, the starlit hills of Galilee, the rivers of Colombia, the kitchens of Istanbul, the taverns of Ukraine and the mining camps of California. It sails in caravels, rides the stage coaches and the railways; trudges the dawn streets of London, hobbles along with the remnant of Napoleon’s ruined army.
The Jewish story is a history that is about, and for, all of us. And in our own time of anxious arrivals and enforced departures, the Jews’ search for a home is more startlingly resonant than ever.
‘A magnificent achievement…’ Jonathan Freedland, Guardian
‘An extraordinary cultural journey, filled with astonishingly colourful and outrageous characters … Schama delivers a superb and thrilling ride, both inspirational and tragic’ Simon Sebag Montefiore, Mail on Sunday
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Review
"Immensely erudite and compulsively readable." - New Statesman
"A magnificent achievement." - The Guardian
"Magisterial...Wonderfully rich...Superb...In the company of Schama -- one of the finest writers and thinkers of his generation -- we are guaranteed a guide both insightful and eloquent." - Daily Telegraph (London)
"Magisterial... With astonishing range and extraordinary synthesising powers, Schama captures the drama of Jewish History.... Between the poles of their regular, unannounced acculturation and anti-Semitism lay Jewish life in all its vibrant, messy and colourful forms." - Financial Times
"An engaging and electrifying read by a skilled literary craftsman, cultural historian and tour guide . . . Schama enchants his readers by introducing colorful characters worthy of a Charles Dickens novel... The Story of the Jews dazzles with the art and alchemy of an adventure novel." - Washington Post
"Schama is a remarkable storyteller. His approach is cinematic. . . A riveting picture, generously rendered . . . Schama has made an eloquent and a far-reaching case for why Jews needed a small piece of earth they could call home." - New York Times Book Review
"In his engaging, stylistic prose, the author proceeds chronologically and delves into fascinating personal stories that reveal the Jewish experience...A fluid history lesson from an always engaging guide." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A technicolor blockbuster." - The Spectator (U.K)
"Remarkable... [a] glittering gemstone of a book." - The Times (UK)
"Profoundly illuminating." - The Observer (London)
About the Author
Simon Schama is University Professor of Art History and History at Columbia University in New York. His award-winning books include Scribble, Scribble, Scribble; The American Future: A History; National Book Critics Circle Award winner Rough Crossings; The Power of Art; The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age; Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution; Dead Certainties (Unwarranted Speculations); Landscape and Memory; Rembrandt's Eyes; and the History of Britain trilogy. He has written and presented forty television documentary films for the BBC, PBS, and The History Channel, including the Emmy-winning Power of Art, on subjects that range from John Donne to Tolstoy.
Product details
ASIN : B00KCTEY60
Publisher : Vintage Digital
Accessibility : Learn more
Publication date : 5 October 2017
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From Australia
Jonathan Blackstone
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in Australia on 28 November 2020
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I just loved experiencing the range and depth of Schama's knowledge of the subject - it is an admirable intellect - and he throws it the odd turn of phrase that kept me on my toes, and that I'm more familiar with in good historical fiction, or even poetry, a great read.
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joanne boog
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful
Reviewed in Australia on 21 September 2022
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Love reading Sharma
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From other countries
ASB
5.0 out of 5 stars Simon Schama is an eminence
Reviewed in Mexico on 20 August 2022
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by Schama alone, this book is a must read. Few writers/historians have told such a complex story with such depth and honesty. He doesn't get involved in conflicting issues and goes into details that are totally unknown to most...
Super recommendation.
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gcX
5.0 out of 5 stars Who really knows the Jews?
Reviewed in Italy on 24 April 2019
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Simon Sciama, an exceptional 'essayist' (see 'The Eyes of Rembrandt) who, with due, ironic (wit) partiality, tells us about the fascinating world of Jews before the Shoah.
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Jonathan Yach
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on 15 December 2017
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I liked the novelette style applied to share the stories
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starling
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 January 2019
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Asked to review before I've finished this rather long but fascinating book, I don't want to wait till the end before saying how good it is, because I am terrified of reading what happened last century (though I see he stops at 1900, thank goodness). Schama is amazingly clear at presenting a history of the diaspora over several hundred years and many countries, not just in Europe. His story is frequently lit up by individuals of all kinds, most of them astonishing, all interesting. He presents cities like Odessa (to choose a recent one) so clearly that I can imagine myself there (and am convinced he has travelled everywhere as well as having read everything too).
My main impression is of the terrifying behaviour of all kinds of nations against Jews, started by Christians but somehow still perpetrated today when surely everyone knows Jesus was one of hundreds judicially murdered by the Romans, and was himself a reforming Jew? Schama discusses other reasons for this animosity such as Jews might be suspected of not being true to the countries they live in, and that alas I see springing up today, applying to Muslims as well. Jews are evidently never safe for long and the recent British hostility to Europe I see as part of this same terror of any kind of stranger and I fear it may spread once again to those who are not Christian in countries where that predominates. Why? Are Christians so afraid for their own belief system (as Jews in Spinoza's time were when confronted by his arguments?) What is it that makes us so fearful of having our belief systems upset?
But that is one of the many discussions this book may lead to. Another result is for me a wish to return to at least reform Judaism even though I do not believe in God and therefor find Buddhism more acceptable. Both systems are predominantly of rules of moral behaviour. Both have wonderful services, music, buildings and wise people within to turn to. Some people reading this book will find their views of the dangers of any religion confirmed, but some of us love the company and rituals, the consoling history of the valiant in these confessions and the possibility of comfort. Societies also need rituals, to strengthen families and help the dying and the bereaved, and Judaism is wonderful at all this.
One final plea to Sir Simon Schama: please publish a book of your part of BBC's Civilisations as have the other two presenters. I enjoyed your programmes most.
And thank you for Belonging
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Khandallah
3.0 out of 5 stars A forest of detail; no clear path
Reviewed in Germany on 20 November 2019
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The book is hard going because of the style which is discursive, over-detailed (not concise and clear) and full of digressions. There are many anecdotal descriptions of individuals - their businesses, their families, their ecucation etc which were tedious to read and did not contribute to the overall story. For example the various fights of the boxer Mendoza are described in much detail. The author adds his asides on many of the incidents / the history. The book is like a vast wander through a mass of detail with no clear overview.
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Steve Pease
5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book by a Superb Story Teller
Reviewed in the United States on 22 January 2018
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This is a wonderful book. Schama is a superb story teller.
He takes individual Jews - whose stories are fascinating and emblematic of particular eras in Jewish history - to tell The Story of the Jews between the commencement of the Inquisition in 1492 and the emergence of a full fledged Zionist movement on the heels of the Dreyfus case. Though I know a reasonable amount of Jewish history having written a couple books on disproportionate Jewish Achievement, I wish this book had been available when I began my research. It would have better informed my work from inception.
I recommend this for any Jew or Gentile interested in learning more about this important 500 years in World history. This is a story of great hardships and survival coupled with telling of the vitally important role Jews played over all those years.
Steven L. Pease
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Morley S. Wolfe Q.C.
5.0 out of 5 stars The somewhat esoteric first book by Schama ( The Story ...
Reviewed in Canada on 9 June 2018
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The somewhat esoteric first book by Schama ( The Story of the Jews 1000 BCE - 1492 CE ) leads into this follow up from 1492 - 1900 and provides the modern reader with some fascinating details and background into the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of a people poisoned by bigotry, religious hatred, ghetto-ization and racial discrimination - with expulsions from Spain, from Portugal. from England - to acceptance in Holland and other European designations (sometime with reticence ) - and more personal vignettes into the slow but eventual realization that Jews are more than capable of merely surviving all the ill-will they encounter - but truly contribute to the betterment of society as whole. A fascinating, and scholarly read and perhaps as important - a necessary one.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting and enjoyable
Reviewed in Spain on 30 November 2020
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An intense, very interesting book that provides a broad view of Jews. Perhaps a vocabulary that is sometimes cultured, which requires a dictionary. The type of narrative is outreach, so it doesn't get heavy or academic.
Looking forward to the final part.
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From other countries
Dominika
3.0 out of 5 stars Bad cover
Reviewed in Poland on 16 February 2023
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The ridge quickly breaks, difficulties with comfortable reading. Content super.
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A. Howes
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly absorbing. Masterful.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 November 2017
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A masterly piece of research and composition. A big book but a gripping story. I really like it. It informs us a lot about what happened in the past and it's bearing on the events of today.
3 people found this helpful
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M. Ronald Sitlhou
5.0 out of 5 stars 👍
Reviewed in India on 30 March 2019
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Bought for mom, she love it!
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gnadas
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent writing
Reviewed in the United States on 14 November 2020
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I read Volume I and enjoyed it immensely. Shama's prose and his special way of weaving in history with well-developed characters is very satisfying. All the anecdotal stories bring home how history shapes society. I strongly recommend both volumes of The Story of the Jews by Simon Shama!
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J. H. C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Obligatory reading for ALL faiths
Reviewed in Spain on 5 November 2017
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A MUST READ for Everyone, as was the first volume.
One discovers how our modern world would have been impossible without the Jews belonging to all of us.
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menjoe50
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it !!!
Reviewed in Canada on 4 December 2017
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Just as its first volume, this volume continues to tell Jewish History throughout the ages by highlighting episodes of this remarkable people. Using personal histories of individuals or their families and their contribution to their communities and how they influenced humanity. Fascinating historian what a great and rare story teller !!!!
Just like all his oeuvre whether written in books or through TV.
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Joseph John Choolakkal
4.0 out of 5 stars Spend time reading
Reviewed in India on 3 September 2019
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Big book
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Dr. Debra Jan Bibel
4.0 out of 5 stars The Quest of Social Acceptance Continues
Reviewed in the United States on 7 November 2017
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Schama continues the epic history of the Jewish people by focusing on representative leaders, innovators, and delusive fools; merchants, bankers, and military; rabbis and rebellious philosophers; and clashing worldviews of Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Jews in Yemen, and Jews in China. Brave, independent women are here also. Foremost, however, is the constant struggle against lies, deceits, and hatred, lethal, destructive pogroms and exile, and always dashed hopes. Whether Sultan or Prime Minister, Prince or Pope, the powers desired the Jewish expert mercantile network and funds for economic gain and wars on neighbors while denying citizenship, restricting forms of livelihood, movement, property ownership, and areas of dwelling. However loyal to the nation and supportive of the ruler, Jews knew that everything could easily be lost overnight. Schama leaves out much of Jewish history in Central Asia, as Bukhara, and even the relationships of Jews and Sufis of the Ottoman Empire. The focus on individuals, however, does personalize and enliven the accounts, which are extraordinarily detailed and scholarly without being academic. The book is a story of survival against all odds, enduring as a people and religion largely because surrounding society would not really allow full assimilation; even those who were forced or socially obliged to convert to Christianity were never trusted and assumed to be cryptic Jews. The book stops at the cusp of the 20th century with the rise of Zionism, a return to Jerusalem and the land of Israel where Jews could have their own nation in which to govern themselves and be safe from the adverse whims of potentates, as were the aspirations of Indians in the Raj and the Kurds and other peoples today. The stated 3rd volume will cover the last 100 years, which is fresh in the mind and reinforced by film, book, and play. Even in America, as Schama describes, despite its documents of freedom, Jews faced the same distrust and exclusion (as a reminder of even recent times, see the 1947 film with Gregory Peck, Gentleman's Agreement) and the darkness of anti-Semitism remains here and in Europe, just beneath the surface. Schama is a storyteller and this new volume fascinates and educates with its complexities and follies, hopes and dreams, and ever melancholic sighs.
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Sharon Dugan
5.0 out of 5 stars Moving and informative.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 August 2020
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A wonderfully powerful read. So much information and so sympathetically written.
I would recommend the book to all people, young and old to gain a better understanding of Judaism.
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Tejas
3.0 out of 5 stars Not upto the mark
Reviewed in India on 18 March 2021
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Some pages are missing
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