“Rebel Daughter,” a novel that brings history to life

Review by Carole J Greene

How do you get your history lessons? College lectures? A 700-page tome by a noted historian? Maybe a carefully researched and lovingly created novel? If the last option is the one you would choose, may I recommend “Rebel Daughter” by Lori Banov Kaufmann. Don’t let the fact that it is her debut novel turn you aside. She knows her craft.

From page one, Kaufmann engages her readers and plunks them down in the midst of chaos in first-century CE Jerusalem. As Rome cracks down heavier every day on the religion, culture and lives of the Jews, Esther, an aristocratic young woman, struggles to forge her own life. Her parents intend to betroth her to a much older man, a successful silversmith she can’t imagine herself wedding. So, she rebels. She is much more attracted to Joseph, a man from a good family, now involved with local Jewish rebels. Another man, Tiberius, a Roman who has a clandestine business partnership with Esther’s father, presents another, more troubling possibility. The twists and turns of her personal life reflect the turmoil of the times.

Esther’s three brothers — Yehuda, Shimon and Matti — symbolize the ups and downs of the historical realities. Yehuda lost his wife in childbirth then, days later, the baby. He has little left to lose. He joins one of the rebel groups actively battling with Romans to protect the Temple. Kaufmann keeps readers in suspense about his survival.

Lori Banov Kaufmann

Shimon, a gambler and drinker, is gone more often than he is home, leaving his wife, Miriam, to help with the mundane chores of family life. She is despondent because of her inability to conceive. He promises powerful men something he can’t deliver and is taken prisoner. Shimon eventually is killed. Only after his death does Miriam discover she is not barren after all. Tragedy mutes the joy. The youngest child of the family, Matti, often accompanies Esther on her daily chores.

Her desire to protect him leads to scary plot points, such as when he gets lost in the market, where anything — all bad — could happen. After Rome wins the war and the Temple is destroyed, Matti and Esther are taken to Rome, where they endure desperate lives as slaves until they are rescued by — I’ll let you discover this by reading the book.

Kaufmann’s story lines depict Jewish life as it was lived in 70 CE. The activities of each member of this family represent the actual historical figures Kaufmann unearthed in her research. As Esther goes about her daily jobs, we learn about herbs and spices used in healing, about weaving fabric, tending the family’s animals and other tasks of homemaking and about shopping in the clamorous markets. The story poignantly describes an adolescent girl’s coming into puberty, the importance of status when choosing a husband for one’s daughter, and that daughter’s battles with herself to do as her parents wish. The author braids all these tidbits of the times into the historical tumult.

Kaufmann will reveal even more about “Rebel Daughter” when she presents her book at the Jewish Book Festival’s 2 p.m. Zoom event on Tuesday, Feb. 28. For tickets, go to jewishbookfestival.org. Scroll to the date and purchase the right to receive the Zoom link.