Greenberg, Joanne (Goldenberg) - The Times Literary Supplement
THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT
This penetrating novel [The King's Persons] is set in the Jewry of York, long established and reasonably secure…. Then in 1182, when the book opens, [the Jews] accept a large group of refugees driven from France by young King Philip…. [As] the number of local Jews is suddenly increased Gentiles feel disturbed.
Good men, both Christian and Jewish, explore the common ground of both their faiths, and try to bridge the remaining gap by personal friendship. But tension mounts, until a pogrom at the coronation of King Richard increases the flow of refugees….
Until she describes with great power the final massacre Miss Greenberg proceeds largely by recounting discussions between her leading characters. Although she is skilful in presenting the public opinion of the twelfth century these discussions sometimes ignore verisimilitude. In a new and ardent monastery a novice may sit on a fence by the hour, chatting...
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