Settlers: A Novel

by Meyer Levin

The Settlers

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Israel, Novels, Jewish

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable canvas accurately portraying the Zionist pioneers of the early 20th century, returning to their ancient homeland-Eretz Yisroel, (the Land of Israel).
The persecution these Jewish returnees left behind in Russia is captured her with humanity and understanding. So is their struggle to rebuild their lives in the land of their ancestors that had become benighted and barren and their harrowing dilemma of how to respond to attacks by marauding Arab bands disabusing them of the notion that Jews can escape hostility anywhere in the world. Always present is the human relations and inner conflict.
All of this is captured with consummate skill and penetrating human understanding and warmth and a piercing look into the life of these returnees.
The saga of a people is weaved into a saga of a people, a nation and a land. highly recommended.
I would love to ger hold of the sequel The Harvest,

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This year I was interested in the First and Second Aliyahs to Israel. Having read non-fiction books, it was fun to read a fictional account. It was an epic about a family that settles in Israel, then Palestine and under Turkey. The book is looks at the life of this family from about the beginning of the 20th century to after WWI. A month later, I'm still thinking about the characters.

[Melissa Crespy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I, again, found this book in my synagogue library. I thought I was reading another book by the author of the Boys from Brazil, but that was Ira Levin; this is Meyer Levin. I enjoyed this historical novel as it gave me some sense of all the difficulties the early settlers in the Land of Israel faced. Everything from the rich settlers not hiring Jews to work their fields (but cheaper Arabs), to skirmishes with the Arab Moslems in the land, to the butchering by the Turks as World War I entered the land, to the antisemitic Brits who kept the Jewish fighting brigade waiting forever until they could start fighting the Turks in Palestine. It also gave insight into the early communal settlements, the ideological arguments that went on in them, and relationships between the members of each "k'vutsa". It is a very worthwhile read.

[Patricia Rockwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look into the early days of the Jews in what is today Israel--all pre-WWI. Big Leah is a heart-breaking character and it is hard to connect with the others because of her.

[Pattie]

Unfinished

[Faina Menzul · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic story of the early Settlers in the land of Israel. Follows closely history of the land from the Ottoman rule through establishment of the State of Israel, and continues in the second volume, The Harvest, through the wars of Independence.

This is an Israeli War and Peace!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved both this book and its sequel, "The Harvest". It's a shame these books are no longer in print. I'd love to find newer/better copies to replace mine.