THE HEIRS OF CAIN

by Abraham Rothberg ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 14, 1966

My name is Jacob...but my hands are Esau's. I do not think any man will call me Israel."" This pseudo-cryptic comment introduces Jacob Nissin, self styled avenger who can barely keep his head up in a novel awash in polemical euphemisms. Jacob, an Israeli undercover agent posing as ""a veritable Aryan,"" an American journalist in Switzerland is determined or destined to eliminate two German scientists who are working on an unknown assignment for the Egyptians. The scene is Switzerland where the Germans are holidaying and we probe the neutralist Swiss mystique, trample the German aura and lie prostrate before the enervating facts of Jewish history. There are flashbacks lo and even unto the cattle car where Jacob's mother committed suicide just before his father thrust him out with a prayer for survival. And we are jarred into the somewhat disconcerting contemporary awareness that Germany is on the move again, in conjunction with the Russians and planning to take over Europe. Meanwhile Egypt is planning its own ""final solution."" Everyone waxes philosophical: Jacob--""the world is full of Gentiles but where are the Christians;"" the German--""We Germans specialize in killing for the future;"" a Swiss guide--""Avalanches teach you to pray."" One scientist (the homosexual) says thank you as our hero pulls the trigger. It's a case of an author genuflecting to his own symbols. Seldom have sackeloth and ashes seemed so heavy.

Pub Date: Nov. 14, 1966

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1966

Categories: FICTION