Category Archives: historical novel

‘Do you dare?’

By Posted in 19th century emigrant, America, Ephraim Epstein, historical novel, Jewish, Susan Lee Kerr Tagged , , , , , Leave a comment

‘You don’t — you’re afraid!’ Benjamin crowed.

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‘You think my faith cannot hold its own? My intellect?’ Anger made Ephraim’s voice harsh, and then ironic. ‘I dare say I can emerge from a Christian service unscathed.’ The way was wider here and they easily walked abreast, thumping their improvised walking sticks, walking fast in the competitiveness of friends. He told Benjamin another road story from the Shermans’ Bible. And so they made a bet. On the next day, which was Sunday, if they found themselves in sight of a church, they would attend it.

Curiosity, challenge… the two Jewish friends on a summer break in New Jersey, 1851, egg each other on. In Chapter 9, The Road to Metuchen, they have an encounter that will change their lives forever.

AmaReka… sounding like America,

By Posted in 19th century emigrant, America, Ephraim Epstein, historical novel, immigrant, New York 1800s Leave a comment

… in Hebrew it meant hollow people — the so-called good life, all hard work and no respect for the old ways. Hollow indeed — if I get hard work I will thank the Lord, Ephraim vowed. He started a second letter to follow the one that announced his safe arrival after the nightmare voyage. They must believe! He set out telling some of the astonishment that was America. But after three lines he faltered, more depressed than ever. He tore off the strip of paper and crumpled it, carefully saving the rest of the sheet.

Times Square, NYC

AmaReka, America

It’s still New York City, 1850, in Chapter 6, Amereka, and Ephraim is down to his last few dollars as he struggles to find work. Should he give up and buy a ticket home?

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Praise for…

Susan Lee Kerr’s debut historical novel is more than just a portrait of her extraordinary great grandfather — it’s a story about Europe and America, Christians and Jews, science and superstition, and the impact of immigration, dislocation and modernity on three generations of a gifted but turbulent family. Ephraim Epstein’s journey is geographic, spiritual and psychological, and it takes him — and us — from the 19th century to the 20th in this compelling, surprising and carefully researched narrative.

— Glenn Frankel, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of

The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend

Anticipating a birthday

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Soup, pate, baked fish, roast turkey… the household is bustling with preparations for Ephraim’s big birthday celebration later this month. He’ll be seventeen and Grandfather Shimon Ziml Epstein will travel all the way from Warsaw to bestow his blessing! Mama has her married daughters Chashe and Chevah readying the best table linens, silver, crystal and china. In the kitchen she’s set the middling daughters, Eva, Pauline and Kathy, to help with potatoes, carrots, onions, winter radish, dumplings, nuts, apples, raisins. Meanwhile the young ones skitter underfoot hoping for treats and begging their big brother to play with them — before he’s too old, they tease.

‘There was no lack of good food, raiment and shelter in my parents’ house,’ Ephraim wrote in the account of his life, ‘Why do I live so long.’ His details, and those of his sister Pauline Wengeroff, greatly enrich the flavour (dare I say) of Ephraim’s early life. Go meet her on Ephraim’s people page. Anyone have any delicious ancestral family recipes to share?

A ticket to Ephraim’s world

By Posted in 19th century emigrant, America, Belarus, Christian, emigrant, Ephraim Epstein, historical novel, Jewish, Kansas, missionary, Russia, West Virginia

Fasten your seatbelts… oh, but there were no seatbelts in 1850. So, hi there from Ephraim’s author and great granddaughter (one of many, but the only one I know of who’s tracked his life and turned it into a novel). This is the first post for Ephraim’s site… you’ll see I’ve begun pages where we can travel where he did:  from Belarus to Kansas, from Saloniki (as he called it) to West Virginia and more, much more.

And another part where followers of Ephraim can see photos of him, his family and maybe meet up with Ephraim’s seed right here in the 21st century. And of course there’s the story page, a sketch of what he’s all about.

Pardon me while this blogsite is building, more bells and whistles will appear. I’m braving new territory as this astonishing illustrious ancestor did regularly. Speaking of travels and adventures, which I was only slant-wise, I won’t be back for a month — going on my own travels. But do watch this space as the historical novel about Ephraim M Epstein is in production countdown… 104 days till it is ready for the world. And here in this place we can have some fun exploring his world. Just think, he spoke seven languages…