Le Messie

by Marek Halter

Venise, 1524.

David Reubeni s'explique calmement devant le conseil des Juifs de la ville. D'où vient cet homme au regard sombre, qui semble indifférent à la crainte comme à l'espoir qu'il inspire ? Il se dit général d'une armée du désert, envoyé de son frère, Joseph, qui règne sur le mystérieux territoire de Chabor... Il expose son projet fou : lever en Europe une armée juive, afin de créer un royaume sur la terre d'Israël, alors aux mains des Turcs. Où va-t-il ? À Rome, obtenir l'appui du Pape – à qui il promet, si l'entreprise réussit, le contrôle des Lieux saints de Jérusalem.

Pendant sept ans, cet homme surgi de nulle part va marquer la politique des cours d'Europe et nourrir les rêves de tout un peuple. Du pape Clément VII au roi du Portugal, de François Ier à Charles Quint, David Reubeni va partout déjouer les intrigues, contourner avec diplomatie les obstacles – de l'hostilité au simple scepticisme – pour convaincre les puissants que son plan, seul, fera justice à son peuple tout en préservant leurs royaumes de l'expansion menaçante de l'islam. Il y parviendra presque.Bientôt, pour les millions de Juifs d'Europe, expulsés d'Espagne, convertis de force au Portugal, persécutés ou au mieux tolérés ailleurs, David Reubeni devient le Messie. Partout des foules le suivent ou l'attendent, partout des exaltations mystiques font grandir sa légende. Son plan si parfaitement agencé, l'équilibre politique si parfaitement observé – tout va céder sous l'élan même des forces qu'il a contribué à créer.

Après sept ans d'efforts, après avoir résisté aux tentations de la passion et de la gloire, perdu lui-même entre son projet d'origine et le rêve qu'il a fait naître, David Reubeni se retrouve dans les geôles de l'Inquisition...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Religion, Fiction

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Marek Halter was born in Poland in 1936. During World War II, he and his parents narrowly escaped from the Warsaw ghetto. After a time in Russia and Uzbekistan, they emigrated to France in 1950. There Halter studied pantomime with Marcel Marceau and embarked on a career as a painter that led to several international exhibitions. In 1967, he founded the International Committee for a Negotiated Peace Agreement in the Near East and played a crucial role in the organization of the first official meetings between Palestinians and Israelis.

In the 1970s, Marek Halter turned to writing. He first published The Madman and the Kings, which was awarded the Prix Aujourd’hui in 1976. He is also the author of several internationally acclaimed, bestselling historical novels, including The Messiah, The Mysteries of Jerusalem, The Book of Abraham, which won the Prix du Livre Inter, and Sarah, the first of the Canaan trilogy, and Lilah, the concluding one.

Reviews

[João Sá Nogueira Rodrigues · Rating 5 out of 5]

Até agora não li um único livro de Marek Halter que não fosse excelente...e este não é excepção(pelo menos para mim)!A escrita é sempre fluida, leve,mas carregada de significado! Não há palavras escritas para "fazer número",algo que muitas vezes me incomoda noutros livros...Depois a mistura de factos históricos com a imaginação do autor é extraordinária! Nós sentimos realmente que estamos a vivenciar a história, como se estivéssemos a ler uma crónica!Enfim... já perceberam que sou fã do autor e fã dos livros dele,e por isso talvez pouco parcial...Mas realmente vale muito,muito a pena ler Marek Halter!O Messias é um excelente livro!

[Margarida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um livro de leitura difícil, que obriga a alguma reflexão e até mesmo a alguma pesquisa, já que grande parte das personagens são reais.
Um óptimo romance histórico, sobre a negra época da inquisição, mas também sobre a luta de um homem judeu vindo do deserto para a Europa, pedir apoio na luta contra os turcos que então ocupavam Israel com o objectivo de criar "um Estado judaico em Israel" (in: O Messias -Nota do autor) e conseguir levar os Judeus de volta à Terra Prometida, Israel. Muito bom mesmo! Gostei muito. Cada vez mais fã de Marek Halter!

[Zé · Rating 4 out of 5]

O autor cativou-me com a qualidade de um relato histórico sobre uma das épocas mais ricas e mais negras da europa ( a inquisição ), espero poder ter o prazer de ler mais livros do Marek Halter.

[Marvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This very Jewish novel (like Halter's others) tells an interesting story, based on real characters and real historical events, though only the broad outlines of the story are known. A Jewish prince from the Jewish "kingdom of Chabor" visits the highest authorities in the Roman Empire in the early 16th century to solicit their support for an attempt to establish a Jewish homeland to relieve European Jews of their oppression. The story, as told here in a stilted voice and with much repetition of the main themes, has a Zelig-like quality to it, as the hero visits--and uniformly impresses--nearly everybody who is anybody in early 16th-century Europe (except the key Protestants, who are only referenced on occasion): Michelangelo, Machiavelli, the pope, the king & queen of Portugal, the king of France, the Holy Roman Emperor, to name just a few. The author tells us repeatedly what a brilliant, charismatic, and heroic figure the hero is, but does little to show us that convincingly. He accepts his messianic role only reluctantly and never fully. I checked a few reference sources, including Jewish ones, and he's generally treated as a much more shadowy figure. Anyway, I'm glad to know this story, though I probably would have appreciated it more if it had been told at a somewhat lesser length and with greater subtlety.

[Afrijewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read.

I have read several of Mr. Halter's book and unfortunately some of complete misses as if there is a ghost writer, student intern, or understudy writing for him. Fortunately, this book is a hit for me. Might I add the number of new words I've learnt, what a vast vocabulary. I have come to recognize that my vocabulary usage and knowledge of is quite limited.

Now on to The Messiah, it speaks of patient, total reliance on God, resilience, persistence and humility to take on such an Art of War task. When I read the book, the cover image is not what I would image at all. In fact, I quite often thought of and imagined the prince David Reubeni of one of the tribes of Israel...to be in likeliness to Shaka Zulu the African prince/king/warrior.

[Steve Cran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout history the Jews have been downtrodden and persecuted. At times someone would arise offering the hope of salvation and a return of the Jews to their ancient land.

One such figure was David Reubeni. This account is a novelized account of his travels to Europe. Starting with His landing
In Venice where he is welcomed by the Jewish community, yet the Jewish leadership is rather weary of him and rather distrustful. One particular opponent is Giacobo Mantino, who fears David Reubeni will spark antisemitic outrage. Various priest and Christian clergy are ready to support Mantino and bring down Reubeni. David's main objective is to raise a Jewish army to redeem Israel. First he approached the Pope who is very supportive of the idea. Yet unable to assist directly. From there David goes to Portugal where the ruler there is rather supportive. The success is so great that Diego Pires decides to stop being a Christian and embrace his Jewish roots. This causes the ruler of Portugal to mistrust David and accuse him of proselytizing. Bear in mind this is taking place during the inquisition. Driven from Pprtugal David goes to France, gets captured by pirates and eventually he goes back to Rome. In the end the inquisition catches up with Diego and David...... Read the book to catch news of their ultimate fate.

[Donna Maroulis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very informative and interesting from the viewpoint of a Christian reading about a purported Jewish Messiah ( not Christ ) in the era of the Inquisition in Europe. I read the book assuming that it was totally fiction, only to discover that it was based on a real person ! I also enjoyed reading of the different treatment of Jews in various parts of Europe in this time period, as it varied quite a lot.

[Mohammed Aql · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a different approach and different goal of writing.
The first books were almost written for the Jews and those interested in this history. But this book did not find the same public, and was not written with the same strength.

I feel the difference of power of information presentation between this book and the previous ones.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting historical fiction. The story revolving around the mission of David Ruebeni was well done. The author spent time researching this forgotten man of the Renaissance period.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent novel based on the life of a man who attempted to make it possible for the Jews to return to their homeland. I never had even heard of this man and found his life fascinating!

[Lee Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

So complicated I quit reading at about page 75

[Mohammed Aql · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think its not the best of Halter's books. I recommend it to those who have a very critical eye.

[Thorsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein nicht unübler Roman, gewürzt mit einigen historischen Einblicken.
Hatte mir allerdings etwas anderes drunter vorgestellt, daher: Einmal reicht.