Publisher's Weekly Review
Like A.S. Byatt's Possession and Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, this emotionally rewarding novel follows the familiar pattern of present-day academics trying to make sense of a mystery from the past. Helen Watt, a British historian facing retirement, and her much younger American assistant, Aaron Levy, are asked to examine a cache of documents found in a London townhouse, purported to be the work of a blind rabbi in 1661 and written out by a copyist known only as Aleph. Aaron is brash and right from the outset rubs prickly, Parkinson's-suffering Helen the wrong way. But they are forced to work together after Helen realizes that Aleph was most probably a Jewish woman-unheard-of for the 17th century. In alternating chapters, we see life of the copyist, Ester Velasquez, as an immigrant from Amsterdam, her friendship with a wealthy Jewish merchant's daughter, her attempts to survive the plague and the Great Fire of London, and her covert correspondence with the preeminent minds of the period, including rogue philosopher Benedictus de Spinoza. Meanwhile, in the present, Helen and Aaron overcome academic infighting, rival historians, and greedy house owners to uncover Ester's fate. What they find out about her life informs what they ultimately learn about themselves. Ester's story illuminates the plight of London Jews in the 17th century, and Helen and Aaron's sparking relationship is vivid and memorable, as the two historians discover how desire can transcend time. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
A mysterious collection of papers hidden in a historic London home sends two scholars of Jewish history on an unforgettable quest.When Helen Watt receives a phone call from a former student about centuries-old documents secreted away in his posh residence, she doesn't hold out much hope for their importance. Close to retirement, Helen's seen it all. But a cursory look at the papers tells her she's holding something special. She returns to the house with Aaron Levy, an eager American graduate student, in tow. Despite butting heads over process, the unlikely pair of literary detectives uncover a stunning truth: the writer of the documents is a 17th-century woman who chronicled the Jewish diaspora, from the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition to the rich trade city of Amsterdam and the relative safe haven of London. Kadish (I Was Here, 2014, etc.) deftly weaves contemporary scholarly intrigue with the voice of Ester Velasquez, an incandescent 17th-century mind who longed to engage with the brilliant men of her day. "Here I begin," writes Ester in her very first attempt. "I am one soul in a great city." Ester risks everything to wrestle with ideas that counter rabbinical teachings, developing a secret identity to protect her family from harmand relishing her newfound freedom. Clocking in at almost 600 pages, the novel could have used a judicious pruning to highlight the intellectual game of cat and mouse that plays out across four centuries. Still, Kadish's characters are memorable, and we're treated to a host of them: pious rabbis and ribald actors, socialites and troubled young men, Mossad agents and rule-worshipping archivists. From Shakespeare's Dark Lady to Spinoza's philosophical heresies, Kadish leaves no stone unturned in this moving historical epic. Chock-full of rich detail and literary intrigue. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Kadish positions two women born centuries apart yet united by a thirst for knowledge at the core of a richly textured, addictive novel stretching back and forth through time, from contemporary London to the late seventeenth century. When Helen Watt, a seriously debilitated expert on Jewish history, joins forces with a graduate student to uncover the identity of the anonymous scholar who penned a sheaf of newly discovered seventeenth-century Jewish documents, the two race against both the clock and another team of academics in an attempt to unmask the long-overlooked Aleph. In 1660s London, Rachel Velasquez, a Jewish immigrant from Amsterdam, becomes a scribe for a blind rabbi. As a woman, she struggles against societal expectations and prejudices to achieve her ambitions. Meanwhile, Helen battles against the odds to uncover one last buried piece of history and give Rachel her due before it is too late. Kadish has fashioned a suspenseful literary tale that serves as a compelling tribute to women across the centuries committed to living, breathing, and celebrating the life of the mind.--Flanagan, Margaret Copyright 2017 Booklist
Library Journal Review
This is a rich literary mystery about two women scholars in London, 350 years apart. In the present, a house renovation reveals a trove of 17th-century Jewish documents. Historian Helen Watt enlists American graduate student Aaron Levy to help her authenticate them and identify the author. The parallel tale is about Esther Velasquez, who was among a colony of Jews who emigrated from Amsterdam to London in the 1660s. Esther is the protégé of a distinguished rabbi who recognizes her brilliance, though women were not allowed to study or debate with men. She chafes at the community expectations that limit her to marriage and family, and she assumes a man's name when she corresponds and debates with the philosopher Spinoza. In the end, Helen uncovers Esther's identity to bring her long-lost genius to light. Corrie James's narration was so quiet and calm that it was too easy to lose the thread. Verdict Recommended for public library collections where long historical novels are popular. ["The riveting narrative and well-honed characters will earn a place in readers' hearts": LJ 4/15/17 starred review of the Houghton Harcourt hc.]-Nann Blaine Hilyard, formerly with Zion-Benton P.L., IL © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
