The Jewish Lover

by Edward Topol

Edward Topol's novels have mesmerized Russians, to the extent that he is the single bestselling author in Russia. Now his work -- a titillating melange of erotica, magical realism and thriller -- is available in America.The Jewish Lover chronicles the struggle between two men: A Jewish casanova and prominent journalist, who has applied for emigration to the United States, and his rival, a KGB officer determined to exact revenge for the seduction of his daughter. With impeccable skill and stunning imagination, Topol creates the refusnik culture of the '70s and takes the reader to a Soviet Union that few know. It is a story with the power and passion of the original Exodus -- the story that inspires all people to escape oppression.

403 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1998

About the author

Edward Vladimirovich Topol (Russian: Эдуард Владимирович Тополь; real name Topelberg (Russian: Топельберг; born 8 October 1938) is a Russian novelist.

Born in Baku, Topol spent his teenage years finishing local school in Baku and graduated from Azerbaijan State Economic University.[1] He also did his military service in Estonia. He worked as journalist for newspapers such as Bakinskiy Rabochiy and Komsomolskaya Pravda and wrote the screenplays for seven movies, of which two were banned due to censorship under the Soviet government.

In 1978 he emigrated to USA, New York, and lived for short periods in Boston, Toronto and Miami.

Reviews

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a complex story about anti-Semitism in 1970s Russia during the
Leonid Brezhnev era. A KGB colonel learns of a Jewish journalist with a
penchant for seducing pretty, young Russian women. Colonel Barsky begins
building a case against the journalist with the idea of prosecuting him in a huge, nationally publicized show trial. It is a good plot but the author keeps jumping back and forth between now and the first century which makes it hard to follow. It also contains some highly unlikely relationships.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the beginning of my ongoing Topol addiction. How can you not love his winning combination of sex, vodka, and Kremlin corruption? His dark-eyed, crumpled heroes and nubile, fearless heroines could win the heart of the greatest Russia skeptic. My favorite Soviet pulp fiction. Thank God he emigrated when he did.

[Gennadiy Tsygan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag. Some of the Soviet era scenes are described in beautiful and realistic details, while other are nothing but attempts to raise the level of drama. The numerous sex scenes are among the most cringe worthy I have ever encountered. Probably added by the dry monotonous audiobook narration.