King of the Jews

by Leslie Epstein

The King of the Jews is I.C. Trumpelman, the member of the Judenrat responsible for drawing up the death camp lists, a power he uses to establish his own authoritarian regime.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Jewish, Holocaust, World War II, Judaism, Historical

350 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Leslie Donald Epstein was an American educator, essayist, and novelist.

Reviews

[penelopewanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was yet again a book I mooched along with another to make up a parcel, so I didn't know much about it and by the time I picked it up a few days ago, didn't remember what I'd discovered while reading the reviews before mooching. So I entered this without realizing its connection with the Holocaust, despite the dates which of course were significant. As the beginning seemed reminiscent to books by Singer (or even Borges), I was set for a fantasy tale. It soon becomes clear that while Trumpelman is a fantastical character, this was no pure fantasy. It was intriguing to have a closer look at the role of the Judenrat and the inner workings of the Ghetto (I must have read Milo 18 as a teenager and since then have focused my WWII reading on other aspects, more by accident than choice). I confess that given today's political context, when reading about Trumpelman's role and the shifting perceptions of him (conman? crook? traitor? savior?) - I couldn't help noting a similarity, in name at least, with a current political leader.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

came across epstein's SAN REMO DRIVE in the new fiction section of the bookstore, and rather than pay hardcover price for a good read, decided to see if the store had his backlist in stock, and found this. almost buried under a dozen highly laudatory blurbs, took a chance and discovered a great work of literary art. based on the polish city of lodz and the sort of puppet leader set up by the nazis to govern/liaison the Jewish ghetto there, epstein paints a teeming, vivid portrait of what it was like to live in the absurdity and morally ambiguous maze of the ghetto. with a grand cast of quickly drawn yet practically breathing-at-your-side characters, dark, dark humor and a consistently paced torrent of words that captures the nearly Bosch-like space of this harrowing, unbelievable and dastardly experience, i feverishly followed the rise and fall of what becomes an archetypal jewish ghetto existence, if you can call it that. best thing about it all is the lack of moralizing and judgement-making. epstein just shows it like it is -- even though, thankfully, it is a thing that was. historical. hopefully.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this years ago. But its popped up in my constant appraisals of human nature and in relation to a novel I'm now reading, so. (Oh. And also, the author is the father of Theo Epstein, who was manager of the Red Sox, then the Cubs.) I found it delightful albeit gruesome. The setting is a ghetto the Nazis will destroy. The ghetto residents could be members of a retirement home in Florida or members of a committee to raise funds for a new volleyball net. It's the holocaust and what the characters do is bicker over the deals of 'community living.' That's what I loved - how people are silly, petty in spite of the horror they are surrounded by.

[Sara'la · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epstein's writing style mirrors fellow European Holocaust writers: sparse, direct, dark, with a touch of fantastical realism.

In other words: brilliant.

Conniving, manipulative, with a Godlike complex, Epstein creates a Shakespearean anti-hero: I.C. Trumpleman is the Baluty Jews' Savior but is he their Devil in sheep's clothing?

This provocative exploration of human resistance and in turn, compliance, should be added to the "best of Holocaust literature” oeuvere.

I've added it to mine.

[Wickovski Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a book.. follow a mystical wandering Jew I C Trumpleman through History and end in the LOdz Ghetto. This is a story of the Holocaust.

[Trish Voskovitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting view from the side of the ghettos- but some of it was a slog but still interesting enough to get to the end.

[Frederick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned some history.

[Msgold · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this novel, we are transported to a Jewish Ghetto during Nazi times. The people are divided and arguing over how to handle almost everything, from small issues to major decisions.

At times I did not keep track of all the characters and I had to go back to remember who a person was. However, I kept reading because the suspense was very great. I wanted to know what would happen to these people.

[Kelsey Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complicated read at points, this work of fiction offers an inside look at the inner working of the ghettos and the decisions Jewish leaders were forced to make and the effects it had on their communities. While I loved the book, it is certainly not for everyone. Only the patient reader can truly enjoy this slow paced novel.

[Judy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not get into this novel. Characters were not endearing.
I have read many, many books about the holocaust, this novel never gave one the feeling of what people really went through.
The characters came in & out of the story, I felt I was tripping over them and had to try to remember who was who, which got to be tiring.

[Rachel Ban Tonkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a really painful read because of the subject matter. It gives an interesting perspective on the difficulties members of the Judenrat balancing trying to save people's lives while meeting the demands of the Nazi's. A dammed if you do, dammed if you don't dilemma.

[Denelle Swaim · Rating 5 out of 5]

No book I read in college has stayed with me as long. If faced with an impossible choice, what would you do? It may not be what you think. What SHOULD you do? Your opinion may change after reading this book.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

A bit slow paced and it could be difficult to keep track of the characters. Not as much action as I would have liked, but it played with some very interesting ideas regarding life in the Jewish ghettos during WWII.

[Mordechai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good description of the conflict the Jewish ghetto leaders had, whether to collaborate with the Nazis or not.