People of the Book

The “complex and moving” (The New Yorker) novel by Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks follows a rare manuscript through centuries of exile and war.

Inspired by a true story, “People of the Book” is a novel of sweeping historical grandeur and intimate emotional intensity by an acclaimed and beloved author.

Called “a tour de force” by the San Francisco Chronicle, this ambitious, electrifying work traces the harrowing journey of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, a beautifully illuminated Hebrew manuscript created in fifteenth-century Spain.

When it falls to Australian rare book expert Hanna Heath to conserve this priceless work, the tiny artifacts she discovers in its ancient binding—a butterfly wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair—only begin to unlock the book’s deep mysteries and unexpectedly plunges Hanna into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultra-nationalist fanatics.

“Lively historical novel.”

— Observer

Review by 1000 Libraries

Geraldine Brooks’ People of the Book is a captivating and meticulously researched novel that takes readers on an extraordinary journey through centuries of history, all centered around a single, ancient Hebrew illuminated manuscript: the Sarajevo Haggadah. More than just a historical fiction, it’s a profound exploration of preservation, identity, and the enduring power of stories.

Tasked with restoring the Haggadah after its miraculous survival during the Bosnian War, Hanna discovers a bunch of intriguing artifacts hidden within its pages. Each discovery acts as a portal, launching readers into a series of interconnected historical vignettes that trace the Haggadah’s perilous passage through time. Thus begins the journey of being transported from the vibrant Jewish quarter of 15th-century Spain, through the intellectual ferment of Venice, the brutal sieges of Vienna, and the harrowing realities of Nazi-occupied Sarajevo. Through all these stories, the Haggadah becomes more than just a book; it transforms into a living testament to human resilience, faith, and the universal desire to protect beauty and knowledge.

“A book is more than the sum of its materials. It is an artifact of the human mind and hand.”

Indeed, People of the Book is a testament to the idea that objects can carry the weight of history, bearing witness to the lives they touch. It’s a beautifully written, intellectually stimulating, and emotionally resonant novel that will appeal to lovers of history, art, and compelling storytelling. Brooks reminds us that every artifact has a story, and sometimes, the most profound stories are found in the most unexpected places.

“

“The epic themes of love and war are her [Brooks’] preferred canvas and here she sets up multiple narrative strands to tell the turbulent story of this Haggadah. Anti-Semitism is the momentum propelling the book's extraordinary journey forwards and Brooks evokes her various fraught historical-religious conflicts vividly.”

Metro

“

“An irresistible subject, given urgency by its timeliness and poignancy by its paradoxicality: for the novel is based on the true story of an ancient Jewish codex saved from the fire by a Muslim librarian. Her performance will satisfy many readers.”

Guardian

“

“Brooks expertly guides us to the conclusion that the world is made up of only two types of people: those who would destroy books and those who would give their lives to save them. This illuminating novel, like its predecessor, is well worthy of both Pulitzer and prime-time approbation..”

Independent on Sunday

Explore More

/

/

/

People of the Book