Reuben Sachs

Oscar Wilde wrote of this novel, "Its directness, its uncompromising truths, its depth of feeling, and above all, its absence of any single superfluous word, make Reuben Sachs, in some sort, a classic." Reuben Sachs, the story of an extended Anglo-Jewish family in London, focuses on the relationship between two cousins, Reuben Sachs and Judith Quixano, and the tensions between their Jewish identities and English society. The novel's complex and sometimes satirical portrait of Anglo-Jewish life, which was in part a reaction to George Eliot's romanticized view of Victorian Jews in Daniel Deronda, caused controversy on its first publication.

This is a beautifully crafted little novel. The language is faultless, pared down to only that which is needed, yet at the same time painting an unforgetable picture of Anglo-Jewish life at the end of the 19th century. The story is that of Reuben Sachs abnd his cousin Judith Quixano. Much is expected of young Reuben, and Judith is a poor relation, and a romance between them would be unthinkable in the gossipy, snobbish community they live in. In terms of plot it might be fair to say that not much happens until then end of the novel, the families visit one another, go shopping, and there is a ball. Yet a world is created in such a way as the people that live in it step right off the page.
This novel was written (some say) in answer to show more the highly romanticized portrait of Jewish life created by George Elliot in Daniel Deronda, and therefore caused some criticism at the time. Amy Levy was still quite a young woman when she wrote this novel, who knows what she may have achieved had she not committed suicide a few years later aged only 27. show less

Reuben Sachs is the story of a young man living in the heart of a large, conservative Jewish family in 19th century London. This was the book that was discussed at the September teatime reading group, and I didn’t expect to like it all that much. I don’t read very much Jewish fiction, so this book was a little out of my comfort zone; but I enjoyed Amy Levy’s descriptions of the family and Reuben’s relationship with Judith, a childhood friend he’s in love with but can’t marry. I thought Amy Levy was a little harsh on Jewish culture and traditions, and she was a little heavy-handed with the “tribe” theme. But in all, I thought this was a really interesting look into one family in 19th century London. Amy Levy was on 27 show more when she wrote this, and committed suicide just the year after, so you really wonder what she was thinking when she wrote this. show less

A remarkable (although irregular) novel, following the frustrated love story of two cousins set in the London Anglo-Jewish community. Its style is polished, pared down, ironic at times and mournful at others, sometimes remiscent of Wilde or contemporary women writers such as Menie Muriel Dowie. There is a tendency at times towards generalisations and oversweeping statements that undermine the precision and lucidity of other passages. The interlinked sequences of the ball and the conclusion are particularly successful.

The story of two cousins who live in an Anglo-Jewish community in London in the 1880's. Reuben and his cousin Judith have secretly been in love with each other for years. His family is not so subtly trying to keep them apart. Reuben has a possibility of becoming the Conservative MP for St. Baldwins. He needs a wife with money and social connections. Judith is a poor relation with bleak prospects. Although it's only 148 pages long, not much seems to happen until the very end of the story. We meet the extended family, they have a few dinners together and attend a dance. Along the way we learn the social and material expectations for each character. You know the entire time that it will not end well. Recommended.

This is the sort of book that I would never have picked up had I not been required to read it for class. It's dry, tedious, uneventful . . . really not a pleasure to read. There's a cleverness to Levy's writing, true. And the illustration of Anglo-Jewish life was interesting. Nevertheless, it was difficult to get through, and I will likely never pick it up again.