The Books of Jacob

A Novel

By: Olga Tokarczuk, Jennifer Croft - translator

Narrated by: Allen Lewis Rickman, Gilli Messer

A NEW YORKER “ESSENTIAL READ”

“Just as awe-inspiring as the Nobel judges claimed.” – The Washington Post

“Olga Tokarczuk is one of our greatest living fiction writers. . . This could well be a decade-defining book akin to Bolaño’s 2666.” –AV Club

“Sophisticated and ribald and brimming with folk wit. . . The comedy in this novel blends, as it does in life, with genuine tragedy.” –Dwight Garner, The New York Times

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2022 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, TIME, THE NEW YORKER, AND NPR

The Nobel Prize–winner’s richest, most sweeping and ambitious novel yet follows the comet-like rise and fall of a mysterious, messianic religious leader as he blazes his way across eighteenth-century Europe.

In the mid-eighteenth century, as new ideas—and a new unrest—begin to sweep the Continent, a young Jew of mysterious origins arrives in a village in Poland. Before long, he has changed not only his name but his persona; visited by what seem to be ecstatic experiences, Jacob Frank casts a charismatic spell that attracts an increasingly fervent following. In the decade to come, Frank will traverse the Hapsburg and Ottoman empires with throngs of disciples in his thrall as he reinvents himself again and again, converts to Islam and then Catholicism, is pilloried as a heretic and revered as the Messiah, and wreaks havoc on the conventional order, Jewish and Christian alike, with scandalous rumors of his sect’s secret rituals and the spread of his increasingly iconoclastic beliefs. The story of Frank—a real historical figure around whom mystery and controversy swirl to this day—is the perfect canvas for the genius and unparalleled reach of Olga Tokarczuk. Narrated through the perspectives of his contemporaries—those who revere him, those who revile him, the friend who betrays him, the lone woman who sees him for what he is—The Books of Jacob captures a world on the cusp of precipitous change, searching for certainty and longing for transcendence.

In a nod to books written in Hebrew, The Books of Jacob is paginated in reverse, beginning on p. 955 and ending on p. 1 – but read traditionally, front cover to back.

©2022 Olga Tokarczuk and Jennifer Croft (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Sophisticated and ribald and brimming with folk wit. . . The comedy in this novel blends, as it does in life, with genuine tragedy.” —Dwight Garner, The New York Times

“Monumental . . . could help the Swedish Academy restore its rather tattered reputation as an arbiter of serious literature. …Tokarczuk is as comfortable rendering the world of the Jewish peasantry as that of the Polish royal court. . . . Incalculably rich in learning and driven by a faith in the numinous properties of knowledge.” —Wall Street Journal

“Yes, there’s a miracle in these pages. It’s not about the Virgin Mary or the false Messiah Jacob Frank, however, but the way Tokarczuk can make a period so distant from us in every way feel so completely alive.” —Los Angeles Times

Sometimes tedious but well worth the effort

All cults are the same. In the 18th century, one sociopath led a multitude of Jewish followers through Eastern Europe. He trafficked women and girls, took money from his faithful and promised fulfilment through his own form of decadence. The history of Jacob Frank is told in the voices of his followers. Some of these members were brilliant and unndeserving of the abuse heaped upon them. I wanted to scream at them for masochistiically allowing Frank to destroy their individuality. But nobody twisted their arms. The biggest tragedy I felt was the destructon of his daughter.

Religion is a hoax and a way to hurt outsiders.

A sprawling and engrossing historical novel

I loved this book because of its vast scope and range. It centers on a mid-18th century time of political and religious upheaval in Eastern Europe, specifically around the messianic aspirations of one Polish Jewish man, Jacob Frank, and his followers. But that description does not do justice to the involvement of priests, princes, archbishops, generals, mystics and common people moving from what is now Germany east as far as the Muslim cities of the Ottoman empire and back again. With a couple of dozen or so main characters and a hundred or more secondary ones, extending over 3 or 4 generations in families, I found it useful to refer now and again to a reference list of characters I found online. But that small extra effort was worth it to read this Tolstoyan masterpiece and to go on this long, engrossing ride. Narrators both are excellent. Highly recommended.

Amazing book

The story based on historical events is full of richly developed characters. The narrators are unbelievably good.

A truly gorgeous noble

This is a magnificent work of art. A mix of history, culture, magic realism. The narration is superb highly recommended.

Worthy.

Full of thought. Fact and fiction blur. Eloquent words even in the chaos and confusion of the characters’ lives.

The Moby Dick of religious delusion

From Smyrna to Berlin, from orthodox stetl to the French revolution, Jacob Frank’s sect of heretical Judaism preached salvation through sin. The sins are lively reading, and the Chronicle of families that fell for his visions and frauds fill a panoramic thousand pages. I stayed interested. About 2/3 through, the Jews change their names to Polish names, and after that I found it hard to follow who’s who. if you are interested in the history of Judaism, as I am, you’ll probably like this giant novel.

With Moments of Genius, Still a Giant Slog!

This was tough, even with the text in front of me. There were absolutely moments of utter genius but I'm not sure it was worth the time it took.
Pacing was a Huge problem for me in this as it feels like it's never really moving, or at least as slowly as our own lives. There were no moments where pace picks up and audience can get excited or emotional & the character list I kept is longer then that of a Tolstoy book, yet some disappear while others pop up 600pgs later.
Also, book has many images, maps etc that will be missed if only listening to audio version. I like to think many of my issues would go away if read in its original Polish language but whose to know? Not me

Incredible

Tokarczuk masterfully weaves history, faith, and legend together into a vast and bitingly human narrative.

Stunning story and beautiful reading

This story is so compelling and beautifully rendered. The reading of the story is gorgeous and helps one hear the foreign names with ease. I have the hard copy too and so reading and listening together make a rich experience.

swooping, large & unstoppable

a monstrous half century brought kicking to life. & no more of a monster than our own.