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Per Mare E Per Terra (2010)

by Mitchell James Kaplan(Favorite Author)

3.75 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

8854504661 (ISBN13: 9788854504660)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Neri Pozza

review 1: I found this an interesting book about the time of the Inquisition and New Inquisition in Spain. Luis de Santagel is chancellor to the court and longtime friend of King Ferndinand. He is also a converso, and his Jewish heritage makes him an easy target. Through the main character we meat Christopher Colon, and other characters and understand a bit more about life in that times. But it is more a story about faith, the Spanish Inquisition and the role of religion in fifteenth century Spain.
review 2: A deep, well-written, historically rich and thought provoking novel. The Spanish Inquisition (or New Inquisition) was a stain in both human and Christian history and I appreciate novels like this that endeavor to educate and bring to light the stories of the good, ... morethe bad, and the indifferent. The main character, Luis de Santangel, advisory chancellor to King Ferdinand, is the protagonist and not entirely honorable. As a "converso" (convert to Christianity from Judaism)he is able to quell his innate desires about discovering his past and his forgotten heritage but doesn't suffer for it like those he enlisted to aid him in some capacity. His brother Estefan, for example, is a true stalwart, sadly being tortured and burned at the stake for simply looking out for his nephew (Santangel's son) and refusing to acknowledge the divine authority the inquisitors beat into every person in his city. "I shall not repent to a fellow mortal, Father. What is between me and God I need not share with you." Luis de Santangel got his "punishment" through life's ironies and the invisible hand of destiny but it happened in spite of everything he did to prevent it. He extinguished all his resources to save himself and only himself. Thankfully, the writer introduces you to people like Estefan and a devote, unapologetic Jewish woman named Judith to renew your belief that people are good, faithful, kind, and unwilling to sell out. They are examples to me. My favorite quote from the book is when Judith asks Santangel if he is Christian or Jewish. Santangel answers: "My lady, what is the advantage of knowing, with absolute certainty, what one believes? There's much to be said for doubt." Judith replies: "All people suffer. But if you don't know what you believe, you suffer alone." What an amazing statement of faith, religious conviction, and ultimately empathy. less

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