The King of the Fields (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: Isaac Bashevis Singer
- First Published: 1988
- Type of Work: Historical novel
- Time of Work: The Middle Ages
- Setting: Poland
- Principal Characters: Cybula, Laska, Kora, Yagoda, Krol Rudy, Nosek, Ben Dosa, Kosoka, Krol Yodla
- Genres: Long fiction, Historical fiction
- Subjects: Love or romance, Supernatural, Europe or Europeans, Religion, Ethnic groups, Jews or Jewish life, Faith, Devils or demons, Poland or Polish people, Middle Ages, Jews and Gentiles
- Locales: Poland
In The King of the Fields Isaac Bashevis Singer returns to territory familiar to his readers. Set in ancient, rural Poland, it is highly reminiscent of Der Knekht (1961; The Slave, 1962). Once again, a Jew, Ben Dosa, torn from his homeland, becomes the servant of violent Gentiles. Once more, a non-Jewish woman, Kosoka, falls in love with him, and he initially resists her advances. Finally, he recognizes that she is attracted not only to him but also to his religion, and he recognizes his own love for her. Together they flee, she converts to Judaism, and they...
[The entire page is 1674 words long]
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