It's good that we take the time now to understand that this is historical
fiction based on what is known of the actual appearances of the Sarajevo Haggadah - before we get into Geraldine Brooks' imaginary story - built around the facts.
Because the author actually spent time in Sarajevo during the siege, actually saw the Haggadah when it was presented to the conservator and researched the history of the book, I feel confident in accepting the factual part of the book. I don't agree with the criticism that she had an agenda - or worse, lied about things that she knew were falsehoods. I do understand how it would bother some to see the facts mixed with fiction - it sort of trivializes the facts if you care strongly about them - as the Muslim reviewer obviously did in his criticism of the book.
Did you read his criticism? Was there anything in it that concerned you?One thing he said that puzzled me, especially when you consider that Geraldine Books, a convert to Judaism, would have no reason to downplay the Jewish part in displaying the manuscript"-
"Brooks skips over the historic showing of the manuscript by the city’s Jewish community, and devotes little attention to today’s Bosnian Jews, who figure prominently in the life of contemporary Sarajevo"
Perhaps he is overlooking the fact that the story, though written in 2006, opens in 1996, a very unsettled time for all Bosnians.
JoanK - you present an interesting question -
Are the Bosnian muslems Serbs, Croats, both, or neither? We have both religious and ethnic differences here: not clear how they interact.
As I understand it - with the help of the World Almanac - and posted in #156:
Bosnia is predominantly Muslim - still - although during the siege in 1992, the Serbs massacred/deported thousands - staggering numbers, children too - in an ethnic cleansing attempt. when they occupied the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.
.
Bosnia today - Muslim 40%; Orthodox Christian 31%; Roman Catholic and 14% "other?"
Before the siege, the Muslim number was much higher, but they were massacred and deported.
Serbia - Orthodox Christian, 85%: Roman Catholic 6%; Muslim 3%
Croatia - Roman Catholic 88%; Orthodox 5%.Nothing is said about the Bosnian Jewish population - do you think they are included in the "14% designated as "other"?
It would be interesting to know what the Jewish population numbered in the 1990's during the siege. I'll check around - you do too.
Callie, the map on the inside cover of the book has been reproduced here - it appears in the heading - in the first post on the top of every page. Do you see it?
Pat has put a red #1 at the location in Sarajevo - next to the 1996 Sarajevo ruins - where the story begins. If you click the map twice, you should be able to read the small print.
