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On The Bookshelf

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A murder mystery and historical novel laced
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78 Detroit Jewish News

book that had been turned down again
and again has now been published in
Germany and Brazil, with Italian, Span-
ish and British editions in the works.
frer two years of trying to
Inspired by the strong reception in
sell his first novel to pub-
Europe, Overlook Press acquired the
lishers, Richard Zimler was
American rights and published the
left with a pile of rejection
novel this spring.
letters and a growing sense of discour-
The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon defies
agement.
easy categorization: It's a murder mys-
The Long Island-born author, who
tery and historical novel laced together
teaches journalism at the University of
with an exploration of the Kabbalah.
Porto in Portugal, then decided to
Zimler succeeds in creating a world
submit The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon
that envelops the reader. Set in 16th-
(Overlook Press;
century Portugal after the Jewish pop-
$24.95)
ulation has been forced to convert, the
story chronicles actual events, includ-
ing the Lisbon Massacre in 1506 in
which 2,000 "New Christians" —
converted Jews, many of whom con-
tinued to practice Judaism in private
— were murdered.
The city seems like a maze, with
identities masked and death at every
corner.
Berekiah Zarco, the narrator who
becomes Lisbon's last Kabbalist, is a
young manuscript illuminator and
fruit seller who sets our to solve
the mystery of the murder of
his uncle, his spiritual mas-
ter, and ultimately to
understand the meaning
— for himself and for
the Jews of Lisbon — of
his distinguished uncle's
death.
to a Portuguese publisher
The novel's suspense-
who promptly accepted
ful
twists are full of
the manuscript and trans-
both
shadow and lumi-
lated it into Portuguese.
nosity
— and are as intri-
Success followed: When
cate as the miniature paint-
the book was published in
ings and designs of manu-
1996, it received the kinds of
Author Richard
script illumination.
reviews authors dream about.
Zimler: "If angels
Mystical teachings flow
Soon after publication, it
had
form,
they
.
as
part
of the dialogue.
became the No. 1 best-selling
would
be
books."
"Time
is
like a seal certify-
book in Portugal, remaining on
ing
existence.
And like a
the best-seller list for 6 months.
seal, it is artificial. As Uncle used to
In European cities, auctions were
say, past, present and future are really
held among publishers for the rights to
just verses of the same poem. Our goal
publish foreign-language editions. The
is to trace its rhyme scheme back to
God," ZarcO explains.
Sandee Brawarsky is a New York-
based book critic.
BOOKSHELF on page 80

SANDEE BRAWARSKY
Special to The Jewish News

