Danny CaspiParis in the 1930s, Palestine under the British Mandate, and Israel from its
early days to the 1990s are the backdrop of this skillfully narrated novel.
Betty comes to Paris from her native Poland in the early 1930s to join her
brother. And there, she falls in love with Yakir Cordovero, a young man without
ambition, the son of a wealthy family in Mandatory Palestine. After an unwanted
pregnancy and abortion, they move to Israel, where both marry and set up
separate families while continuing their relationship.
Significantly, Betty becomes more fulfilled than the two men in her life:
her husband Jacob works as a school teacher and Yakir turns into a frustrated,
unpublished author. Betty, on the other hand, drives her own private car and
builds an impressive career as one of the first social workers in Israel. Overshadowed
by news of the Jews` annihilation in Europe, and by the continual
proximity of her former sweetheart, Betty`s life is, however, not entirely happy.
Narrated through the voices of Betty, Yakir, Jacob, and finally Rafi, the son
who delves into his parents` past for inspiration to write, the novel creates a
knot of emotions, secrets and loyalties.
PARTIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION IN PROGRESS (for publishers only).
Caspi`s original perspective, and his ability to distinguish
his protagonists from one other through language mark
this as a book of high quality.
Haaretz
This book is probably well-known to the elite of Hebrew
literature because it is truly exceptional.
Radio Le-lo Hafsaka
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