BIRTHRIGHT

Crossgenerational story about the people and places of Israel.

Jones and Gold return with the second part of the Heritage trilogy about the history of the Jewish homeland. The first book (Bloodline, 2014) focused on the radicalization of a young Palestinian man in contemporary Israel while recalling stories from the time of Solomon’s kingdom to the Bar Kokhba Revolt of the second century. This installment focuses on the end of the British Mandate period in Israel during, and shortly after, World War II.  By concentrating on the grandparents, Shalman and Judit, of a central character from the first book, the authors illuminate the activities of the Stern gang, one of the more extreme Jewish paramilitary groups of the period. Interspersed throughout the story are brief accounts of Middle Eastern history from the second century, the court of the Abbasid Empire in the ninth century, and the Crusader invasion of the Holy Land in 1095. While these historical tales are well-researched and provide brief but alluring storylines, the main narrative is particularly compelling because of the way in which the love affair and freedom fighting of Shalman and Judit are complicated by Judit’s role as a sleeper agent for Soviet interests in the postwar Middle East. History buffs will appreciate the attention to detail and may well learn new information as they're taken on a ride through political intrigue, religious tradition, and the creation of the modern state of Israel.

Well-researched and captivating stories about Middle Eastern history, society, and religion.