The story is of a young Christian girl who converts to Judaism in mediaeval times so that she can be with the boy she loves. I read this at the same time as I was watching this amazing debate that Pam found arguing for and against - 'We'd be better off without religion'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKkVPnqREbQv=bKkVPnqREbQ (sorry don't know how to make the link clickable - highlight it and R click to either copy or go to)
Flemish author and academic. Stefan Hertmans became fascinated by the true story of a young Catholic French woman who fell in love with the local Rabbi’s son in the 11th century, a totally forbidden love. The lovers fled across France towards Egypt, followed by her father’s knights. Hertmans alternates his fictionalized account of their plight with his own travels across France following what he imagined their journey to be, picking up clues as he went. He brings the Middle Ages vividly to life in this quite anthropological account. I loved it. And am grateful not to have lived then!
Big scope in trying to piece together the life of a young French catholic who converted to Judaism at the time of the Crusades. I suspect it lost in translation and whilst descriptive details are sometimes stunning the efforts at dialogue in places is dire.