Sephardi
Publisher
:
Albin Michel
Parution date
:
EAN
:
9782226192233
Number of pages
:
455
Description
Esther Vidal, the narrator of this generational novel, says, “We have all multiple identities.” She is Jewish, Sephardi, French, and Alsatian; she is traditional and modern, a loving daughter, a rebellious child.
In Sephardi, Esther recounts the history of the Sephardis in telling the story of her family. She is the daughter of very religious Moroccan Jews who settled in Strasbourg after World War II. They consider themselves to be the elite of Moroccan Jews—those who come from Fez and Mogador. The family of Charles Halévy, the man Esther is soon to marry in Tel-Aviv, is Jewish and Sephardic, but the family comes from Meknes and Charles is thus not considered the ideal son-in-law. The Vidals are opposed to the marriage. The two families have known each other for generations, but once they are together in Tel-Aviv, their differences become far more important than their similarities. Esther must deal with the emotions and criticisms of everyone—her parents and grandparents, her future in-laws, and even Charles. At the same time, she must try to understand who she is within her many different identities.
Against the backdrop of the wedding, we learn of star-crossed but eternal love, weavers of spells, family secrets, the philosopher’s stone, the destiny of a family—and the possible end of the Sephardic world. While telling the story of Esther Vidal, Eliette Abécassis explores, with warmth, humor, and passion, the universal dilemma uniting the quest for individual identity with the desire for tradition.
Author
Eliette Abécassis :
Eliette Abécassis is a graduate of the prestigious École Normale Supérieure. She has written several novels, including La Répudiée (Albin Michel, 2000; translated into English as Sacred by Aurora Metro Press), which the author adapted into the screenplay of the film Kadosh by Israeli director Amos Gitai; Mon Père (Albin Michel, 2002); Clandestin (Albin Michel, 2003); Un heureux événement (Albin Michel, 2005); and Mère et fille, un roman (Albin Michel, 2008.)
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