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From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of March, the journey of a rare illuminated manuscript through centuries of exile and war

In 1996, Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, is offered the job of a lifetime: analysis and conservation of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, which has been rescued from Serb shelling during the Bosnian war. Priceless and beautiful, the book is one of the earliest Jewish volumes ever to be illuminated with images. When Hanna, a caustic loner with a passion for her work, discovers a series of tiny artifacts in its ancient binding—an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair—she begins to unlock the book’s mysteries. The reader is ushered into an exquisitely detailed and atmospheric past, tracing the book’s journey from its salvation back to its creation.

In Bosnia during World War II, a Muslim risks his life to protect it from the Nazis. In the hedonistic salons of fin-de-siècle Vienna, the book becomes a pawn in the struggle against the city’s rising anti-Semitism. In inquisition-era Venice, a Catholic priest saves it from burning. In Barcelona in 1492, the scribe who wrote the text sees his family destroyed by the agonies of enforced exile. And in Seville in 1480, the reason for the Haggadah’s extraordinary illuminations is finally disclosed. Hanna’s investigation unexpectedly plunges her into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultra-nationalist fanatics. Her experiences will test her belief in herself and the man she has come to love.

Inspired by a true story, People of the Book is at once a novel of sweeping historical grandeur and intimate emotional intensity, an ambitious, electrifying work by an acclaimed and beloved author.

User Reviews about People of the Book: A Novel

The book was fine. The delivery was dreadful. The book arrived 32 days after I placed the order due to the post office delivering the book to Amazon in Whitestown, IN rather than to me. I'm not certain how this delivery error can be corrected but I will not be ordering any more books until I have received some assurance that this delivery problem has been resolved. -- People of the Book

People of the Book is masterfully written. Brooks molds her style to each era she writes about, making these odd historical occurrences as clear as can be. Hanna is an interesting character, full of personal demons and a desire to her the things books can tell her. The supporting characters are less interesting and often short lived, but they all serve their purpose.

Some of the books back stories are much longer than necessary and often times I found myself wishing those sections were over, or that there was an abridged version i could skim instead. The "mystery" at the end was unnessisary but didn't ruin the rest of the novel. -- People of the Book

Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. It is as superbly written as any fine piece of literature. It is also raw in its description of human suffering and abuse, bringing the reader closer to it and forcing an emotional response. The journey of the book that is at the heart of this story takes the reader on a historical trip that is partly real and partly fictional, but completely fascinating. I think anyone that would like to experience good writing along with a little lesson in history will enjoy this work. -- Superbly Written Historical Fiction

The true story of the Sarajevo Haggadah is so improbable and fantastic that it is sometimes hard to believe and Ms. Brooks does this amazing and true story great justice in her fictionalized account. Some of the chapters move more slowly than others, but several are absolutely moving and unforgettable. She places the reader in the long and sometimes terrible journey that this remarkable book made, and beautifully imagines the people and settings that were engaged with it. If you enjoy Historical Fiction, you will very much enjoy this tale and I would also recommend her excellent Year of Wonders. -- Great Historical Fiction