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El judío errante

Eugène Sue,

Pilar Ruiz Ortega (translator)

3.84 · Rating details · 245 ratings · 19 reviews

En la primera mitad del siglo xix, Eugène Sue inmortaliza la leyenda del judío errante con la creación de esta larga novela escrita entre 1844 y 1845, convirtiéndola en un relato folletinesco, que supuso un gran éxito para Le Constitutionel, el periódico que la publicó por entregas.

El judío errante narra los episodios de una familia francesa de rancio abolengo y religión p ...more

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Paperback, 1472 pages

Published 2015 by Akal (first published 1844)

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Apr 01, 2014 Simon Maxwell-Stewart rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

The Wandering Jew combines the sprightly, soapy élan of the best 19th Century penny dreadfuls with the gothic philosophy-book-masquerading-as-a-novel framework of Melmoth the Wanderer. It is utterly rife with dei ex machina, remorseless villains whose very physiognomy is as gnarled as their motives, heroes and heroines of angelic countenance and simplicity, and similar on-the-nose conceits and elements. It is also written by a great humanist, whose characters never lost their verisimilitude beca The Wandering Jew combines the sprightly, soapy élan of the best 19th Century penny dreadfuls with the gothic philosophy-book-masquerading-as-a-novel framework of Melmoth the Wanderer. It is utterly rife with dei ex machina, remorseless villains whose very physiognomy is as gnarled as their motives, heroes and heroines of angelic countenance and simplicity, and similar on-the-nose conceits and elements. It is also written by a great humanist, whose characters never lost their verisimilitude because they were the concoctions of a man who clearly was a great lover of people. His digressions into social discourse, personal observations, and philosophies, are giddy and righteous, despite the fact that Sue was lambasted by Marx and Engels for not wielding a sharp enough knife when dealing with the disbandment of the medieval status quo which still held Europe in its thrall at the time of writing. It seems to me that the greatest failing of the Left, where I shall ever be entrenched in spite of its flaws, is that hubris consistently leads them to attack others in their own camp, for not having as much derring-do as they, or for the odd statement or line they find distasteful, rather than concerting into one formidable force against their true enemies. Anyway, what I mean to say with all this is that The Wandering Jew is without doubt a soap opera, but one whose ham-handedness is inextricably interlaced with its subtleties and strengths. Perhaps one might call it the Gothic Lit equivalent of a Douglas Sirk, Seijun Suzuki or Samuel Fuller movie- a work whose majestic execution transcends any shortcomings inherent in the medium from which it hails.

I usually read reviews, not for elongated descriptions of the plot, but to see how the work refracted through the reviewer, so I'll confine my description of the plot to the briefest contraction: a man, knowing his time is up, bestows to the survivors of his bloodline a century or two hence an immense sum; a gaggle of Jesuitical supervillains hear tell of this windfall, and contrive to do anything they can to make it their own, and so expand the power and influence of their perfidious branch of the Catholic church. Just like with Melmoth, much of these 1000+ pages read very much like a parabolic theological diatribe against Catholicism, and any opponents of the reformation. Sue really sticks it to 'em throughout. In the character of Rodin, he creates one of the most nefarious, guileful villains in all of 19th Century literature, and a human embodiment of his distaste for the scrabbling, atavistic proponents and protectors of the old church. In appearance Rodin is scrawny, ragged and wretched, befitting his humble post of secretary to a Jesuit minister, but beneath that visage lies the pre-emptive, tactically unmatchable mind of a general. In the other corner are all the various heirs to the fortune. In the 150 years or so since their ancestor died, they have branched out far and wide. There are the delightfully simple and naive twins, raised in Siberia and now venturing back to Paris under the aegis of the wiry old soldier, Dagobert; there is a half-Indian prince with the heart of an Arthurian knight; there's a priest- the good kind this time, almost Franciscan- once almost crucified by the Indians of the New World whilst on a missionary expedition; there's a pleasure-seeking gadfly with an ultimately kind heart when he's not drunk; there is the rich feminist countess, an ardent admirer of all aesthetic beauty, who scorns any suggestion that she should pass up her liberty by marrying any man; and there are many more strands of this blighted family. As you follow each of their paths, you get to really love some of these characters, but as this is a true Good VS Evil story, the Evil must really put the Good through hell before they get their comeuppance. It really is torture having to see such outright irredeemable, manipulative swine come out on top for so many pages, even if you always know that catharsis and victory lie in wait for the more patient of readers. Also, as with any story following multiple characters disseminated far and wide, there are some whose fate you're more interested in than others, though it is always heart-warming to see their paths crossed, as they all start the story as complete strangers, and as the story progresses slowly become a real family.

Now, as to the eponymous element which attracted me to this book to begin with, all the aspects of the Wandering Jew mythos feature here in parts, though really he and his equally benighted sister are background characters at best, and at worst a hack writer's all-powerful best friends: the perfect vehicle for extracting Sue from any corner in which he may have written himself. They have a vested interest in the fate of the heirs, and so, in spite of being damned to never stay in one place for any length of time, do their best to help them fight back against Rodin and his schemes. Nevertheless, they do add a slightly mournful, magical tinge to the story. I've always appreciated a touch of the eldritch and a sprinkling of otherness in my literature, even if it only has a glancing connection to the main kernel of the plot. Perhaps that may be what attracts me to Gothic Literature to begin with. That, and the fantastic, loquacious writing. I'm told that the original French of The Wandering Jew is especially elegant, but as with the contemporaneous translations of most of Théophile Gautier's works, the translator did a particularly fantastic job of using the full breadth of the English language to make a masterpiece of prose. Just reading a few chapters makes you feel like you've necked down an eloquence potion by sheer osmosis. (I read the complete, one-volume gutenberg edition in case you were wondering http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3350).

If you can get past the plot-stretching devices and the b-lit tropes of the serial form which even Dickens fell prey to, a compulsively readable, and for some reason utterly neglected classic of Gothic Literature awaits you. This, along with another lengthy Sue serial novel, The Mysteries of Paris, used to be amongst the most popular books of its day. Like with so many works of its time, every single page is dripping with meaningful asides and cast-off sentences which seem to be more substantial than some entire novels written since. It can be frustrating at times, but unless you're a bitter old meanie like Rodin, you'll enjoy yourself in that edifying way only 18th and 19th Century literature can provide. ...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Bettie marked it as to-read · review of another edition

~~To find~~ Dagny found it! http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3350

Opening: The Arctic Ocean encircles with a belt of eternal ice the desert confines of Siberia and North America—the uttermost limits of the Old and New worlds, separated by the narrow, channel, known as Behring's Straits.

The last days of September have arrived.

The equinox has brought with it darkness and Northern storms, and night will quickly close the short and dismal polar day. The sky of a dull and leaden blue is faintly lighted by ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 Wes Allen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: worlds-longest-novels

3.5 stars = very good

The Wandering Jew came to my attention while reading Walter Benjamin's The Arcades Project. Eugene Sue's socialist leanings probably caught Benjamin's eye, and Benjamin's caught mine. Sue's humanitarian concerns are evident throughout The Wandering Jew, which can wax didactic at points. With that said, the writing is that of a man who cares genuinely for the People (capital P)—a man seeking social reform through the means available to him. Look no further than the common dwe 3.5 stars = very good

The Wandering Jew came to my attention while reading Walter Benjamin's The Arcades Project. Eugene Sue's socialist leanings probably caught Benjamin's eye, and Benjamin's caught mine. Sue's humanitarian concerns are evident throughout The Wandering Jew, which can wax didactic at points. With that said, the writing is that of a man who cares genuinely for the People (capital P)—a man seeking social reform through the means available to him. Look no further than the common dwelling-place of factory-owner M. Hardy for the book's clearest utopian vision: Men sharing much in common; living modestly, but comfortably; and earning fair wages. Sue cleverly demonstrates how this is in the interest of both the laborer and the employer, using as his instructional medium a somewhat unbelievable Q&A session between one of the laborers and his love interest.

"Unbelievable" is, admittedly, a word that flitted through my mind on more than one occasion reading The Wandering Jew. However, this is a high romance from 1845; suspension of disbelief is a prerequisite for reading this type of fiction. Incredible coincidences abound, people die of broken hearts, and women carry the idea/appearance of virtue to extremes—all par for the course in a French high romance. At times, I was reminded of Dickens's work, rife with the kind of fortuitous events that just don't happen in real life, but that undeniably make for engaging fiction.

While the events and characters of this mega-novel often stretch the reader's plausibility to the breaking point, The Wandering Jew remains compelling throughout its 1,500 pages (500,000 words, if you're curious). This long-winded, circuitous feuilleton strays from repeating itself ad nauseam, as big books are wont to do. It contains one of the most despicable antagonists known to 19th-century literature, the indefatigable and pecuniarily-minded Rodin. His machinations are the linchpin of the narrative, driving the plot relentlessly. As I mentioned in one of my reading updates, this is a book to read for the plot, not the writing. While head and shoulders above modern pop-fiction—most of which I avoid like the plague—The Wandering Jew is pop-fiction, make no mistake. The readers of 200 years ago simply had longer attention spans and less truncated vocabularies. ...more

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Jul 28, 2013 Kirk rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I read this first in English, and later in French. It was one of the most popular novels in French of the 19th century, and the story is rewarding if you stick with it.

As a rather violently anti-Catholic work, it was proscribed by the church, something that apparently made it even more popular.

The Jew in question is one who struck Jesus while on his way to crucifixion, then said "get going". Jesus then replied, "I am going, but do you remain until I return." The Jew is then condemned to march co ...more

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Oct 26, 2019 Cooper Renner rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Too much description of characters’ faces, clothing and habitats, as is common in 19th century literature, and a bit of sermonizing from time to time, but overall a first rate melodrama.

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May 15, 2019 Mona Randall rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Such an interesting read; full of intrigue. Highly recommended

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Sep 18, 2020 Howard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: europe

This is a classic melodrama written in short installments verging on an endless family soap.

I read the kindle version though I did originally start a hardback edition but the 1400 pages became just too weighty. If your concerned it might be anti-Semitic don't, indeed it wasn't at all - the title is really rather misleading as the novel isn't anything like Melmoth or The Highlander i.e. no ghosts or magic and it is not a tale about the title either, so there's little or no Jewish stereotyping one This is a classic melodrama written in short installments verging on an endless family soap.

I read the kindle version though I did originally start a hardback edition but the 1400 pages became just too weighty. If your concerned it might be anti-Semitic don't, indeed it wasn't at all - the title is really rather misleading as the novel isn't anything like Melmoth or The Highlander i.e. no ghosts or magic and it is not a tale about the title either, so there's little or no Jewish stereotyping one might expect.

The evil Jesuits have lost a fortune but the group (Rodin, Father d'Aigngny) seek to regain it 150 years later in 1832 by manipulating the inheritance/will coming to seven members of an extended and widely dispersed family of the Renneports including Jacques, the lovely Arlenne de Cardoville, General Simon's twin daughters, Djalma Singh, devote/good monk Gabriel, businessman Francois Hardy. The first half of the book is the evil prevention of these individuals attending the reading of the will - the second half is how Rodin engineers a worse strategy on the family to gain the money for himself and become Pope. There are some lovely side characters like the old soldier and guardian Dagobert, Morok (lion tamer) and Goliath and mother Bunch.

It is a huge novel with lots of classic gothic form of consigning to nunneries, mental asylums, false imprisonment, lying, drugging, disease, duals, inter-racial love and skullduggery. The title alludes to the family's origins to the New testament reference to the guy who told Jesus to 'move-on' and was consigned to endlessly wander the earth in punishment (so much for forgiveness!) but since most of the populace would be Jewish that reference is a bit academic to me too); there is a second inference to 'wandering' is that to plagues of Typhoid which impacts the story towards the end.

I really did appreciate this gothic, classic mix of Dickens/Balzac/Walpole extended story building up to a crescendo halfway and an even more 'will the baddy get his comeuppance?' finale. It is well written - I'll definitely be looking to read Sue's other novels and similar.
...more

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May 03, 2018 Mar Pisa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Por fin, después de más de un mes con este libro, he terminado de leerlo.

Me ha dejado muchos sentimientos, pero sobretodo de rabia e impotencia por todas las desgracias que sufren los siete mienbros de la familia Rennepont a causa de los jesuitas, especialmente de uno muy cruel.
Cuanto más se acerca al final, más crueldades y pérdidas sufren, de tal forma que el final resulta ser una pequeña tirita para una multitud de enormes heridas.

En cuanto a la forma en que está escrito, hay partes muy, muy ...more

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Mar 11, 2020 Ahmad hosseini rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: novel

حیله و فریب، جاه طلبی، عشق
شخصیت ها: رز، بلانش، ژنرال سیمون، داگوبر، گابریل، آدرین، مایو، رودن و ...

داستان خوب و نسبتا جالبی است. نسبتا به این دلیل که روند شکل گیری داستان خیلی کند است و تنها در نیمه دوم کتاب کمی جذابیت و هیجان به داستان اضافه می شود. نیمه اول کتاب به معرفی شخصیت های اصلی و فرعی پرداخته است.
در داستان تعداد زیادی شخصیت های اصلی و فرعی وجود دارد که تقریبا هر یک داستان مجزای خود را نیز دارند. در بخشی هایی از کتاب جذابیت داستان شخصیت های فرعی جای روند اصلی کتاب را می گیرد. به همین ...more

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Dec 30, 2013 Mackenzie Nellis added it · review of another edition

Some of the most beautiful English written here by a French national. Written by a man with an extraordinary breadth of experience for his time, an epic romantic fantasy, and a stark portrayal of the commoner struggling for independence from the morass of religious and governmental autocracy. Written in the dawning of French revolution, and full of interesting historical anthropological tidbits. Definitely worth the 1000+ page read.

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May 28, 2021 Profdave rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow! They don't write 'em like that any more!I

Finished 5/29/21 ...more

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Jul 10, 2019 Megan J rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Super entertaining and... love the end.

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Jul 19, 2020 Viktoria Barzashka-Kurteva rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Extremely flat characters, a social novel that is too boring to read and with a soapy plot

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Nov 08, 2014 Czarny Pies rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: french-lit

Le juif errant est un polemique tout a fait absurde contre l'influence de l'église catholique et particulierement les Jesuites dans la vie des francais au dix-neuvieme siècle.

Finallement le juif errant presente un theorie de complot tout a fait meprisable. La Compagnie de Jésus a été supprimée en 1773 par le pape Clément XIV. Au dix-neuvieme siècle les Jésuites étaient absent de tous les pays catholique. La compagnie survivait uniquement dans l'empire Russe qui refusait d'appliquer le bref apost ...more

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Jan 31, 2016 Ramak M rated it really liked it · review of another edition

it could be written in a shorten version, maybe only one volume book. but got an interesting idea.

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Aug 28, 2018 Margarita rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Не мсмотря на свой объем читается очень легко. Захватывающий сюжет, много героев, прекрасно описан быт и жизнь тех времен.

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About Eugène Sue

Eugène Sue

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From Wikipedia:

Joseph Marie Eugène Sue (20 January 1804 – 3 August 1857) was a French novelist.
He was born in Paris, the son of a distinguished surgeon in Napoleon's army, and is said to have had the Empress Joséphine for godmother. Sue himself acted as surgeon both in the Spanish campaign undertaken by France in 1823 and at the Battle of Navarino (1828). In 1829 his father's death put him in poss ...more