Yakov Bok is an ordinary man accused of "ritual murder" and persecuted by agents of a remote and all-powerful state.
But when he is at last pushed too far, he triumphs over almost incredible brutality and degradation to become a moral giant.

-------------------------
I've just finished reading this book, and it was one I couldn't put down. The time and place was of Yakov Bok, a Jewish man living in Russia when Jews were persecuted and had no status in the society. He starts out to leave his unfaithful wife make a new start on his own One thing leads to another - he gets employment, the business owner's daughter takes a shine to him, and he is just starting to get his life going when he is falsely accused of savagely murdering a child in the neighbourhood.  There is only the accusation which never comes to trial, terrible hardship and long imprisonment without having any chance to defend himself.  He shows tremendous determination in keeping the dignity of a human being who insists on not admitting to a crime of which he is innocent. The ending of this story gives a thoughtful picture of Tsar Nicholas and his way of governing his people. It is a preview in a way of the end of Russia's rule by the aristocracy.