JOEL

by Nora Benjamin Kubie ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1952

A serious novel about a Jewish boy, Joel Davidov, who fought in the American Revolution. An immigrant from Polish persecution, Joel lives with his sister's family in New Haven and, in principle, dislikes the idea of war. He soon finds he cannot live with Tery injustices and at seventeen goes to join American forces, besieged in New York in 1775. When victory arrives Joel has seen more than a few battles, witnessed the execution of Nathan Hale, made a passing acquaintance with Haym Salomon and the Sons of Liberty, been nearly blinded from a head wound received from renegade patriots, and come to gripe with a stumbling block of religious difference with the Christian girl he wants to marry. In the end Joel is rejected by Abigail Bailie- even after he has been accepted by her family-because he will not become a Christian. Joel finds peace in the thought that it matters not what way men worship the Almighty- only that they do, and his solution is to return to New York and reacquaintance with the Jewish patriots he knew in the thick of fighting. In spite of a heavy burden of journey and battle descriptions, there is sensitive treatment here of a little worked theme of our country's beginnings.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1952

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1952

Categories: FICTION