In the year 1492, the Inquisition has all of Spain in its grip. After centuries of pogrom-like riots encouraged by the Church, the Jews--who have been an important part of Spanish life since the days of the Romans--are expelled from the country by royal edict.  Many who wish to remain are intimidated by Church and Crown and become Catholics, but several hundred thousand choose to retain their religion and depart. Given little time to flee, some perish even before they can escape from Spain.

Yonah Toledano, the 15-year-old son of a celebrated Spanish silversmith, has seen his father and brother die—victims whose murders go almost unnoticed in a time of mass upheaval. Trapped in Spain by circumstances, he is determined to honor the memory of his family by remaining a Jew. On a donkey named Moise, the young fugitive begins a meandering odyssey across the vastness of Spain.

The Last Jew, winner of Spain's Que Leer Prize and Italy's Boccaccio Literary Prize,  is a glimpse of the past, an authentic tale of high adventure, and a tender and unforgettable love story. In it, Noah Gordon utilizes his greatest strengths, and the result is remarkable and moving.

Click here for the The Last Jew Reading Group Guide.

"This is an excellent, abundant tapestry of a historical novel that will keep readers on the edges of their seats."
	— The Providence Journal
"Consistently superb ... The new novel showcases Gordon's strength as a writer of provocative historical fiction."
	— The San Francisco Chronicle
"[Noah Gordon] illuminates the choices history forces on individuals—and, not incidentally, creates a grand, informative adventure and a completely engaging, unsentimental portrait of a turbulent time."
	— Publishers Weekly
"Gordon is a natural storyteller, and, given the novel's fascinating setting and a more-than-likeable hero, this superior historical novel should have a place in all libraries."
	— Library Journal
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