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By Fire By Water Mitchell James Kaplan Books

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By Fire By Water Mitchell James Kaplan Books

Historical fiction is my favorite genre and since I write about the Inquisition, I was interested to read this author's point of view. Kaplan has done outstanding research and brings to light Luis de Santangel, a converso and chancellor to King Ferdinand. We see the monarchs as they make their decision to unify Spain and cast out the Jews and Moslems. The Jews were singled out for persecution because the others had armies. The author's character development of our hero is a textured one. Smart and resourceful, he risks so much to remain in the King and Queen's good graces. His love interest, Judith Migdal, wasn't completely satisfying; however, I found it realistic. My novels begin with the expulsion to Portugal and how the Spanish Inquisition spread to the New World. There's more to learn about the power of the church and the strength of those who opposed it.


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By Fire By Water Mitchell James Kaplan Books Reviews

Luis de Santángel is a converso at the time of the horrific Spanish inquisition; his ancestors, in other words, were Jews. More for political reasons (he is a high adviser to King Ferdinand) and for the safety of his family, he is outwardly a Christian but in his heart a gentle, philosophical seeker of all deep spiritual truths. I fell in love with this decent, caring and astute man and the young Jewish silversmith Judith to whom he is drawn.

In this brilliant debut novel, author Mitchell James Kaplan writes with breathtaking poetry and compassion. In the stroke of a few dozen words, a new character appears before us as clearly as if we came across him the street. "Gulls circled and called in the tar-scented morning air" is his description of the dockside where Cristobal Colon's (Columbus) ship is found. Men are described by a belly and a slope of nose and slump of back. Taverns and markets burst into life in short paragraphs.

In a world gone mad with coercive religious conversion, Santángel keeps his moral honesty. "Our wives die," [he says]. "to give birth to our sons. And we go on through life, pursuing our vain ambitions." Colon replies, "Life's cruelty surely must lead to some reward." "What reward?" Santángel shot back. "Wealth? Prestige? Titles? Do you believe God cares about our rank?"

What does God care about? Love, perhaps and mercy. A rich story, a wonderful book, a deeply feeling writer.
Review Santangel is the chancellor to the court of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand in a time when it is dangerous to be a converso, (convert from Judaism to Christianity specifically Catholicism) he is a third generation convert to Christianity through the Catholic church in a time when the Catholic Church still holds great sway in the population's everyday lives, homes, and personal convictions. Santangel must take desperate measures to try to protect those he holds most dear from the prying eyes of the new inquisition in Spain.

While researching the the truth about his past one of Santangel's intimate friend's learns the cost of being on the wrong side of religion in Catholic ruled Spain. Santangel mixes his family up in a plot that brings the head of the new inquisition to his door specifically Torquemada, who is a inquisitor investigating the murder of a high ranking official; this causes tragedies and inquiries to unfold that will change multiple families lives forever in numerous ways.

Judith a young Jewish woman living in Ferdinand and Isabella's kingdom find's the courage to help raise her nephew and take care of his grandfather, after tragedy strikes. Judith also learns how to do metal work and thus keeps the family business going in a time when women were expected to stay behind the scenes and shows remarkable courage in stepping forward in a country where there was prejudice against both her sex, and her religious beliefs. The twist and turns in her story alone could have made a book themselves.

Christopher Colon (Columbus would be the more well known name) is also interwoven throughout the story as a sailor and at one point asks the royals for a grant to go to the new world. He is also involved with some of the plotting / mapping that related to the Hebrew writing (on a map and scrolls) that was connected to Santangel's family being accused of heresy because of their converso background.

The entire novel fit together like a beautiful manuscript. I read it in a day, and could not put it down. I usually read books that have more female characters then male, however this book is easy to relate to, well put together and VERY easy to recommend. I love it.
Set in the 15th century Spain, during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the time of the New Inquisition, the reconquest of Granada from Moors, the expulsion of all Jews from Spain, and Christopher Columbus’s so-called discovery of the Western Hemisphere. The story touches upon the dilemma of Jewish conversos – forced to convert or leave; viewed suspiciously by Catholics and questioningly by Jews. It’s a story of Luis de Santangel, a man “caught between competing faiths, social classes, and loyalties…”

Luis de Santangel, chancellor to the court of King Ferdinand, is from a family of Jewish conversos. His ancestry gets revealed by a Jewish scribe, whom he befriends. When Santangel receives documents from a sailor by the name of Christopher Columbus, which don’t make sense to him, he passes them to the Jewish scribe. While the meaning of documents gets revealed, a deeper friendship develops between two men.

The story of Santangel from Zaragoza, N Spain, is intertwined with the story of a Jewish woman, Judith, from Granada, S Spain. Her brother, a silversmith, and his wife try to escape to Malaga, but die. She is left with an old man and a young boy to support. She sees no other way as to learn the craft of silversmith to support her family. The paths of Santangel and Judith cross. A friendship develops, which has a lasting impact on both of them.

Overall, the story is well-written. However, it has a bit slow start and for that reason 4 stars.
Historical fiction is my favorite genre and since I write about the Inquisition, I was interested to read this author's point of view. Kaplan has done outstanding research and brings to light Luis de Santangel, a converso and chancellor to King Ferdinand. We see the monarchs as they make their decision to unify Spain and cast out the Jews and Moslems. The Jews were singled out for persecution because the others had armies. The author's character development of our hero is a textured one. Smart and resourceful, he risks so much to remain in the King and Queen's good graces. His love interest, Judith Migdal, wasn't completely satisfying; however, I found it realistic. My novels begin with the expulsion to Portugal and how the Spanish Inquisition spread to the New World. There's more to learn about the power of the church and the strength of those who opposed it.