This long awaited story by the author of the highly acclaimed book As a Driven Leaf is a cliffhanger. Rabbi Milton Steinberg passed away in 1950, leaving behind the unfinished manuscript for The Prophet’s Wife. This is a fictional tale about the biblical prophet Hosea, his family life and philosophical views. It describes a fascinating period of Jewish history when corrupt kings and high priests ruled the Israelites and the Northern Kingdom was in decline. We learn about Hosea’s passion for Gomer and his quest for answers and honesty in religious practice. The story is written in Hosea’s voice in biblical times, so although it takes a bit of time to get used to the pace, the effort is worthwhile. This book provides the interested reader with great insight into Jewish life in the era of the biblical prophets.
There is a note from the publisher, David Behrman, a foreword by author Ari L. Goldman, and a reader’s guide which includes commentaries by Rabbi Harold S. Kushner and author Norma Rosen about how they imagine the manuscript would have been finished. Included are questions for discussion and a glossary.
Miriam Bradman Abrahams, mom, grandmom, avid reader, sometime writer, born in Havana, raised in Brooklyn, residing in Long Beach on Long Island. Longtime former One Region One Book chair and JBC liaison for Nassau Hadassah, currently presenting Incident at San Miguel with author AJ Sidransky who wrote the historical fiction based on her Cuban Jewish refugee family’s experiences during the revolution. Fluent in Spanish and Hebrew, certified hatha yoga instructor.
