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By Fire, By Water

Mitchell James Kaplan (Goodreads Author)

3.74 · Rating details · 1,074 ratings · 193 reviews

Luis de Santángel, chancellor to the court and longtime friend of the lusty King Ferdinand, has had enough of the Spanish Inquisition. As the power of Inquisitor General Tomás de Torquemada grows, so does the brutality of the Spanish church and the suspicion and paranoia it inspires. When a dear friend’s demise brings the violence close to home, Santángel is enraged and ta ...more

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Paperback, 284 pages

Published May 18th 2010 by Other Press (NY)

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Jan 23, 2010 Chrissie rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Chrissie by: Lauren Teitelbaum

Shelves: favorites, spain, kirkus, hf, religion, bio, text-checked

This book was amazing - so it gets five stars! The writing style was both informative and magnificently vivid. The reader sees Spain at the end of the 1400s during the Spanish Inquisition. You see it, you feel it and you smell it. The colors, the smells, the textures, the grit the sounds, both the beauty and the wretchedness - they are all there. The horrors of the Inquisition are made so real that it becomes very hard to even read...... That IS how it was. I don't want a fairy tale picture of i ...more

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Mar 05, 2011 Staci rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Staci by: Mitchell Kaplan

Shelves: 2011-reads

My thoughts:
Wow....that's what I think...WOW!! Never in a million years would I say that historical fiction about the New Inquisition during the Medieval times would be intriguing, but I have to say that Kaplan wrote a book that had me turning the pages late into the night and wanting to get up at the crack of dawn to start reading again. The author's writing is so vivid and intense that I felt as if I was walking along side the characters. I loved every aspect of this story, but most of all I l ...more

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Jun 30, 2010 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, historical

From My Blog...[return][return]An in-depth historical journey into the Spanish Inquisitions occurring throughout 15th century Spain under the rule of King Fernando and Queen Ysabel, Mitchell James Kaplan takes his readers to two very different sections of Spain; the predominately Christian section of Zaragoza and the Jewish settlement within Muslim Granada where Kaplan details the lives of the families and the effects the New Inquisition has upon them in Kaplan’s stunning debut novel By Fire, By From My Blog...[return][return]An in-depth historical journey into the Spanish Inquisitions occurring throughout 15th century Spain under the rule of King Fernando and Queen Ysabel, Mitchell James Kaplan takes his readers to two very different sections of Spain; the predominately Christian section of Zaragoza and the Jewish settlement within Muslim Granada where Kaplan details the lives of the families and the effects the New Inquisition has upon them in Kaplan’s stunning debut novel By Fire, By Water.[return][return]In Zaragoza lives Luis de Santangel, the royal chancellor of Aragon, a Christian whose ancestors were Jewish making him in effect a converses and therefore potentially in danger. Santangel goes to great lengths to stop the New Inquisition by first traveling to Rome with Cristobal Colon, also known as Christoffa Colombo, to request the Pope’s assistance to cease the persecution of the converses in Spain. During their voyage home, Cristobal hides documents in Santangel’s trunk in hopes of persuading the chancellor to convince King Fernando to finance his travels to Cipangu, the West Indies and from there, on to Jerusalem. These documents bring together an unlikely group of men and a very dangerous mission. Meanwhile in Granada, where the Inquisitors are near, Judith Migdal learns of the death of her brother and sister-in-law. While grieving she knows she must somehow provide for her nephew, Levi, and his grandfather, Baba Shlomo. Judith pleads with Baba Shlomo to teach her to be a silversmith, borrows money from Azoulay, and learns to read and write from her friend Dina Benatar. The craft comes in far handier than merely supplying an income for Judith and her family.[return][return]Kaplan writes in a vivid and fluid manner, his characters are realistic, the scenes at times almost too vividly described, yet realistic and believable. It is evident that Kaplan has done extensive research into the Inquisitions in Spain, the war against Granada, The travels of Columbo as well as the New Inquisition, which appears to only be concerned with the heresy of “judaizing”. By Fire, By Water is a breathtaking journey back to the 15th century, to a time of fear, death, hope,faith and discovery. Kaplan quite masterfully details the times and the feelings of the people and By Fire, By Water is a brilliant debut by Mitchell James Kaplan and what I hope to be just the beginning of his writing career. I would not hesitate to recommend By Fire, By Water to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or has not read historical fiction before but enjoys an extremely well written book. By Fire, By Water would make an excellent discussion group choice. ...more

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May 16, 2010 Misfit rated it really liked it

Recommended to Misfit by: Amazon Vine

"He had fought his entire life for acceptance and dignity in a society where neither was his birthright. To abandon that struggle, to walk away from his achievements, would be to hand a victory to those who wished to deny his humanity."

Luis de Santángel is chancellor to King Ferdinand, but he is also a Conversos - of Jewish heritage but converted to Christianity - and with the Spanish inquisition in full force that's not always the safest thing to be. Luis decides to explore his Jewish heritage ...more

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Dec 09, 2015 Annette rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jewish-heritage, historical-fiction-1400s

Set in the 15th century Spain, during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella: the time of the New Inquisition, the reconquest of Granada from Moors, the expulsion of all Jews from Spain, and Christopher Columbus’s so-called discovery of the Western Hemisphere. The story touches upon the dilemma of Jewish conversos – forced to convert or leave; viewed suspiciously by Catholics and questioningly by Jews.

It is a story of Luis de Santangel, a man “caught between competing faiths, social classes, and l ...more

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Nov 02, 2011 Astrid rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: historical fiction readers

Shelves: spain

This novel is a fascinating account of the Spanish Inquisition and is told through the experiences of Muslims, Jews, Christians, voluntary and involuntary converts, as well as historical figures Isabel, Ferdinand, Columbus, Torquemada and the main character, Santángel, among others. I wanted a break from Tudor period fiction and I found this book engrossing and thought provoking. Kaplan's prose is beautiful, descriptive and heart wrenching. He makes every word count. I was pleased to read this b ...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Stephen Welch rated it really liked it

By Fire, By Water contains all the elements of the best historical fiction. It's well-written, well-researched, but more importantly, it has an engaging plot and memorable characters. And I left the novel understanding more about the place, the history, and its human drama than when I had entered.

There's political intrigue here, and even a clever touch of religious conspiracy (loved the appearance of the "Toledot Yeshu"!).

I highly recommend By Fire, By Water.

SRW ...more

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May 14, 2011 Beth rated it it was amazing

Set in Spain during the 15th Century, BY FIRE, BY WATER is a gorgeously executed book that exemplifies historical fiction at its finest. Written with intelligence and beautifully rendered prose, the story is as vivid and complex as a medieval tapestry. Mitchell Kaplan has seamlessly brought together themes of love, theology, politics, brutality and the deepest longings and treacheries of highly complex characters. He does this while remaining true to the most delicate (and horrific) historical f ...more

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Jul 13, 2010 Julie Smith rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed

This review first appeared on my blog Knitting and Sundries

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction. I love reading about other cultures, other times, and learning more about periods that I may only have a fleeting knowledge of.

This book is a gem; meticulously researched, but written in such a fashion that you are drawn in almost from the first.

Conversos were Jewish people who converted to Christianity; however, they were all looked at with suspicion by those aligned with the Spanish Inquisition. It This review first appeared on my blog Knitting and Sundries

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction. I love reading about other cultures, other times, and learning more about periods that I may only have a fleeting knowledge of.

This book is a gem; meticulously researched, but written in such a fashion that you are drawn in almost from the first.

Conversos were Jewish people who converted to Christianity; however, they were all looked at with suspicion by those aligned with the Spanish Inquisition. It was basically a crime to have any Jewish artifacts if you called yourself Christian, and being overly familiar with those of the Jewish faith was also a reason for suspicion. You could be tortured until you confessed, or tortured until you refused to confess and died in your squalid cell.

Luis de Santangel, in spite of being a converso, was the chancellor of Aragon and a close confederate of King Ferdinand. This story is about events surrounding Luis and the larger events that he played a part in. We see a man troubled by the inequities of events, who, as part of the power structure, is facing a larger struggle of conscience. He loses a close friend in a horrible fashion, and exacts his revenge in an equally unexpected fashion. He then suffers through additional losses which would have crippled a lesser man. Thsi is not a 'feel good' book, but then how can we feel good when reading about such horrid happenings, especially in the name of God? It IS, however, an "oh, gosh, I really really need to get some sleep instead of reading this" type of book!

Judith is a wonderful character, and we feel as though we are walking beside her in her struggles to get by in a world where Jewish people are second-class citizens at best. Most telling is a phrase I read spoken by a Jewish character: "I heard that they treat their Jews well" in speaking of a Muslim city.

With the current strife between Israel and many of those in the Muslim community, it was eye-opening to me to read about a period where Muslims sheltered Jews and protected them (but only to an extent, as we find out).

There are wonderful side characters, and supposed Christians who commit unspeakable acts, and tragedy, and love, and love lost, and .. well, everything that makes a book worth reading.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, to anyone who loves to read about historical events, to anyone who loves a family story, a love story, a story of conflict .. I think that covers about all of us.

Oh! and did I mention? This is a DEBUT novel - and a glorious one. I am so thankful that people with wonderful talents like to share!

(I was provided with a copy of this title by the author to objectively review) ...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Patricia O'Sullivan rated it it was amazing

In 1492, three events would change Iberia and change the world: Isabella and Ferdinand’s reconquest of Muslim Granada, the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, and Columbus’s discovery of the New World. In his debut novel, By Fire, By Water, Mitchell James Kaplan shows how these events can all be traced back to Luis de Santángel, a third-generation Christian who served as chancellor to the crown. In the novel, Santángel is a likeable character whose curiosity about the Judaism of his grandparents g ...more

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May 13, 2010 Amber rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: EVERYONE!

Shelves: life-changing-reads

This was a phenomenal and well-written novel that I will continue to cherish. I am so glad I was one of the winners of Amy’s contest and experienced this book.

By Fire, By Water is a story of humanity, connectedness, love, betrayal, heartbreak, faith, and hope. It is a story of the New Inquisition, the reconquest of Granada by Spain, the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, the discoveries of Cristóbal Colón, and the people whom all of these events affect.

It is a story of many people - as intricate ...more

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Jul 30, 2010 Mary rated it it was amazing

Shelves: love-it

This is a great book, historically and imaginatively. A crucial moment in time - 1492 - when the "new world" was being discovered, but the "old world" of the Spanish Inquisition was busy torturing and killing Jews and Christians suspected of sympathizing with their Jewish friends - but really it was all about power and grabbing their property and money. Kaplan is a poetic writer whose characters are interesting and deep, and he gives you enough history and authenticity without overdoing the deta ...more

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Jul 10, 2010 David Silver rated it it was amazing

I don't usually read historical novels and was skeptical at first. But the author's prose style and his characters pulled me in. By the end of the book I realized that his ambition was much bigger than just to tell a great story. By placing Columbus in his world, he gave me insight into the real meaning of his 1492 voyage. Brilliant!

...more

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Oct 22, 2019 Joanne rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction-read

This was a very satisfying read. A story that connects The Spanish Inquisition, Cristobel Colon (aka Christopher Columbus) and the exiling of the Jewish population from Spain.

Mitchell James Kaplan took 6 years to write this book, and the end product deserves praise. For such a weighty subject, the writing flows and the story grabs you by the hand and leads you through the medieval world of what we now consider Spain.

The main protagonist, Luis de Santangel, Chancellor to the court of Isabel and F ...more

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Sep 26, 2018 Cynda rated it liked it

Shelves: medieval, hispanic, novel, historical-fiction, read2018

3.75 Stars Really good historical fiction. Kaplan telescopes three big issues in a shortened time--that Reclaiming of Spain from the Moors, the Spanish Inquisiton, and some about Columbus' first expedition. Despite all the telescoping, Kaplan keeps good tabs on where we are in the story. Never got lost for all the complexity of historical events.

Kaplan also helps the reader to have a look into social groups. The rulers--Isabel and Fernindan. A few of their high-level assistants--a tax-collector, ...more

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May 28, 2010 Irene rated it it was amazing

Shelves: gave-away

Reviewed for Author Exposure
http://www.authorexposure.com/2011/06...

By Fire, By Water transports the reader to a chaotic, shameful, yet unprecedented period in world history. Late in the 15th Century, Queen Ysabel of Castile and King Fernando of Aragon, politically connected through their marriage, sought not only to unite all of Spain’s kingdoms, but also to fully purge non-Christians from their unified Roman Catholic sovereignty. While the monarchy’s original intent to unify Spain spawned ...more

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Jul 12, 2010 Wendy W Robards rated it it was amazing

“We must recover that book. The log of his testimony.” Turning back to the priest, he affirmed aloud what they both knew. “And the canon, he must die. Pedro de Arbues,” he nodded slowly, “must die before he destroys you, me, and our associates.”

Caceres lowered his voice. “I know the man to do it. A horseman. A Basque. A skilled assassin.”

They looked into each other’s eyes. It occurred to Santangel that if he had ever felt anything akin to Christian love, it was in this moment, in their shared ha ...more

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Mar 25, 2010 Lauren rated it it was amazing

By Fire, By Water is a wonderful and devastating look at the unification of Spain in the late 15th Century. The novel centers on the growth of the Spanish Inquisition, the Catholic conquest of the Islamic kingdom of Granada, and the discovery of the New World, told through the perspective of two disparate characters. Luis de Santangel is the Aragonese chancellor of King Fernando and Queen Ysabel of Spain, los Reyes Catolicos. He looks to be prosperous and powerful, yet he cannot shake the stigma By Fire, By Water is a wonderful and devastating look at the unification of Spain in the late 15th Century. The novel centers on the growth of the Spanish Inquisition, the Catholic conquest of the Islamic kingdom of Granada, and the discovery of the New World, told through the perspective of two disparate characters. Luis de Santangel is the Aragonese chancellor of King Fernando and Queen Ysabel of Spain, los Reyes Catolicos. He looks to be prosperous and powerful, yet he cannot shake the stigma of being a converso. Though Luis de Santangel was never Jewish, his grandparents were. Thus, as far as Spanish society is concerned, his Catholicism is suspect. The second main character is Judith Migdal, a Jewish silversmith of Spanish descent living in Granada. While the Jews in Granada live in their own quarter as minorities in the Islamic kingdom, their lives are truly turned upside down when the Catholics prevail in Granada and impose exile in 1492. These unlikely characters intersect, as Luis de Santangel finds himself drawn to Judith and curiosity about the religion his grandparents cast aside.

While the novel is told from both perspectives, Luis de Santangel is the key character and the novel centers on his own personal struggles with maintaining the delicate balance of his high position while also shielding himself from any suspicion of Judaizing which surrounds all conversos. This constant suspicion draws Santangel into learning about the faith his grandparents cast aside, leading him to take greivous steps to avoid the glare of the New Inquisition. However, this very act designed to protect his family draws them more deeply into the clutches of Chief Inquisitor Tomas de Torquemada than he ever would have expected. Through the novel, it is a mystery of whether Santangel - incidentally, he was a real person - would escape the clutches of the Inquisition. His path is fascinating, as are his internal struggles.

Judith's character is less interesting to me than Santangel's character because unlike Santangel, she doesn't struggle with faith. She is secure in her identity and is perfectly accustomed to living on the margins. She does not seek to inject herself into a position of power or feel any shame about her family's religious background. Her position as the Jew drawn into Spain and quickly cast out, however, is very important to the story of the unification of Spain.

Ultimately, the novel leaves open a question: Which path was easier, that of the converso who sought to assimilate with Spanish society, or that of the Jew who was cast out of her home and homeland and denied all wordly posessions to pursue a new life on foreign shores? Both paths were perilous but ultimately it seems that only Judith could ever live in peace because she was the only one who was not playacting in a theater in which she was not truly welcome. 5 stars.

For readers looking for other novels about the Spanish Inquisition, I also really liked The Last Jew, by Noah Gordon.

[Reviewed for Amazon VINE:] ...more

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Jan 29, 2011 Helen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, review-copies

By Fire, By Water tells the story of an important period in the history of Spain. A time of progress and discovery, as Christopher Columbus prepares to set out on his legendary voyage to the Indies and seeks funding from the Spanish court. But also a time of fear and suffering with Tomas de Torquemada's New Inquisition designed to root out heresy.

Luis de Santángel, the King's chancellor, is a converso - his family has recently converted from Judaism to Christianity - and his Jewish heritage mean By Fire, By Water tells the story of an important period in the history of Spain. A time of progress and discovery, as Christopher Columbus prepares to set out on his legendary voyage to the Indies and seeks funding from the Spanish court. But also a time of fear and suffering with Tomas de Torquemada's New Inquisition designed to root out heresy.

Luis de Santángel, the King's chancellor, is a converso - his family has recently converted from Judaism to Christianity - and his Jewish heritage means that even he, in his position of great wealth and power, is under suspicion. Santángel wants to understand the differences between the Jewish and Christian faiths but attempting to gain this knowledge could put his life in danger. Intertwined with Santángel's story is the story of Judith Migdal, who lives with her nephew and his grandfather in a Jewish community in Muslim-ruled Granada. Following the deaths of her brother and his wife, Judith decides to become a silversmith so that she can take over her brother's silver workshop and support her family. Eventually Luis and Judith's paths meet, but can there be any happiness for them?

By Fire, By Water was not a light or easy read and I found I had to really concentrate to follow everything that was going on. However, it was worth the effort because I felt that I really learned a lot from this book. I thought it was an excellent portrayal of what it must have felt like to live during the Inquisition, not being sure who could and couldn't be trusted, knowing that even your own friends and family could betray you at any moment. This book really opened my eyes to the suffering and persecution the Jews faced in Spain. The images of thousands of Jews being driven from their homes and forced to leave the country are unforgettable.

I was also interested in the inclusion of Cristóbal Colón (Christopher Columbus) in the plot. Most people are aware of his quest to find the Indies and his subsequent arrival in America, but this book looks at the struggles he faced to obtain the funding he needed for the voyage and to get people to take his ideas seriously.

The author's attention to detail is incredible, from the colours and fabrics of the clothes people wore, to the sights and sounds of the marketplace. You could never forget that you were in 15th century Spain and I was very impressed with the amount of research that must have gone into this book. Everything felt very realistic and believable.

I read most of this book in one day because I was so desperate to find out what would happen to Santángel, Judith and the other characters. The ending was not what I expected at all, but again, it was probably a realistic outcome. By Fire, By Water should be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates well-written historical fiction or is interested in learning more about 15th century Spain. ...more

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Aug 20, 2010 Sandy Vaughan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: e-books

While reviewing what I should read next, I realized I never read or reviewed this book because it never arrived. Feeling most embarrassed, I contacted Mr. Kaplan to explain why I had never written the review. Nice man that he is, he asked if I still wanted to read it. Silly man. To save us both time, I suggested he send me an electric copy as I have both Nook and Kindle loaded on my Mac. Within 24 hours it was on my computer and ready for reading!

Less than 36 hours later, it was finished (who n While reviewing what I should read next, I realized I never read or reviewed this book because it never arrived. Feeling most embarrassed, I contacted Mr. Kaplan to explain why I had never written the review. Nice man that he is, he asked if I still wanted to read it. Silly man. To save us both time, I suggested he send me an electric copy as I have both Nook and Kindle loaded on my Mac. Within 24 hours it was on my computer and ready for reading!

Less than 36 hours later, it was finished (who needs sleep when you have a good book!)

"Good book"...so inadequate a phrase to describe this book! Time: just before Christopher Columbus sets off to the new world. Place: Spain during the riegn of Queen Isobel and King Ferdinand. Subject: The early beginnings of the Spanish Inquisition and its effects on the Muslims and Jews (both converted and unconverted) and maybe some answers to "why".

The historical value of By Fire, By Water was tremendous as this was an area of my knowledge base filled only by movies. Again I had my computer set up so I could quickly check facts and gain a bit more information.

There is such a reality to the characters (both real and imaginary)! I had no difficulty moving from on character's point of view to the other.

While lots of questions arose as I read, at its completion I found myself comparing those times to times of today. What answers did I come up with? We'll discuss that after you've read By Fire, By Water and come to your own conclusions first.

Now this may seem trivial to others but I must give the author koodos for giving me translations when writing dipped into another language! That is one of those knit picking things that has driven me nuts for puppies years!

Mitchell James Kaplan, I must thank you for giving me the chance to read and review your novel! It's now one of my "but have you read this one!" list. I know it has been out for a while and can only hope this small review reignites interest! You took a chance that I might be the one person who didn't like it and would say so. ...more

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Feb 21, 2011 Elysium rated it it was amazing

Shelves: for-review, historical, read-in-2011, books-i-own, medieval

Luis de Santángel is chancellor to King Fernando (Ferdinand) of Aragon but he is also a third generation Christian, converso, but when the Spanish Inquisition starts in full force it’s not safe to have Jewish connections. At the same time Luis grows curious about his Jewish heritage and starts to see theologian in secret but soon catches the eyes of inquisitor and soon finds out that he or his family isn’t safe.

We also hear the story of Judith, a Jewish silversmith, who catches Luis’ eyes. Luis ...more

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Dec 02, 2010 Kayla rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-love, history, fiction, read-in-2010

I received this book from the author for review, with no idea of what to expect. I ended up loving this book! By Fire, By Water, Mitchell James Kaplan’s debut novel, had me interested from the start. It started right in with the suspense, and steadily kept my attention to the end. The characters’ struggles were vividly depicted and realistic.

It’s taken for granted that historical fiction takes facts and twists them to fit in with the plot line and drum up a little drama. I love how at the end of ...more

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Jul 27, 2017 Marcia Fine rated it it was amazing

Historical fiction is my favorite genre and since I write about the Inquisition, I was interested to read this author's point of view. Kaplan has done outstanding research and brings to light Luis de Santangel, a converso and chancellor to King Ferdinand. We see the monarchs as they make their decision to unify Spain and cast out the Jews and Moslems. The Jews were singled out for persecution because the others had armies. The author's character development of our hero is a textured one. Smart a ...more

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Jul 31, 2013 Jo Butler rated it really liked it

Purification of a society, whether by race, religion, sexuality, or difference of custom is never good, but humans can’t seem to resist it. Our history is rife with purges. Christians were sacrificed in the Coliseum. Witches were burned and hanged. The horror in Rwanda, and the Holocaust.

Jews have been the target of many a purification, including the notorious Spanish Inquisition. Mitchell Kaplan has examined the Inquisition in his 2010 historical novel, By Fire, By Water. Luis de Santangel is b ...more

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Jun 27, 2010 Shomeret rated it liked it

Shelves: my-reviews, historical-fiction

There was so much truth in the characterization, the narrative was compelling and this was a very authentic story of Inquisition Spain, but I have read a number of books like this and I'm well acquainted with the history. So unfortunately, there were no surprises for me here. I actually thought The Last Jewby Noah Gordon, which I read earlier this month, was a more original book dealing with this period. ...more

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Jul 11, 2010 Jessica Chen rated it it was amazing

By Fire, By Water is no ordinary historical. It tells a complex tale but manages to remain captivating from beginning to end. The characters were so real, I still feel their presence although I finished reading it a few days ago. The language is precise, evocative, rich. This is a book I will read again - that is if I can get it back from my friend who snatched it from me as soon as I was done.

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Jan 08, 2012 Leslie rated it it was amazing

Wonderful book. Sad, heartbreaking and hard to read at times, filled with interesting characters set against the backdrop of an incredible period in history - a sad period and yet a pivotal one. I picked this book up on a whim and I am glad I did. Very well written, filled with history and engrossing.

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Apr 21, 2010 Marie Burton rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, favorites

Mitchell James Kaplan has certainly tackled a complicated subject with his first novel in By Fire, By Water. It deals primarily with the Spanish Inquisition that was being sponsored by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella as it spread throughout Spain as they attempted to unify the kingdom of Spain. The story is being told through King Ferdinand's chancellor's eyes, Luis de Santangel, who was a converso himself. A converso was someone who was not trusted completely because of the fact they had once Mitchell James Kaplan has certainly tackled a complicated subject with his first novel in By Fire, By Water. It deals primarily with the Spanish Inquisition that was being sponsored by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella as it spread throughout Spain as they attempted to unify the kingdom of Spain. The story is being told through King Ferdinand's chancellor's eyes, Luis de Santangel, who was a converso himself. A converso was someone who was not trusted completely because of the fact they had once been a Jew, or had the 'misfortunate heritage' of descending from one. Another part of the story is being told from a Jewish woman's point of view, Judith, and these two stories ultimately intercept in the novel although they do not meet until later in the novel.

At the beginning of the story we are introduced to Colon, the man who is known today as Christopher Columbus. Although he doesn't play as large of a part in the novel that I expected, it is the theme of conquest, greed and discovery that Colon represents in the story which attempts to come full circle by the end of the novel. A fact that is true is that Luis did help finance Colon's voyage with the three famous ships, but Colon is also portrayed as one who was willing to help some of the more unfortunate people at a time of need. The author did a fantastic job of presenting an accurate portrayal of the setting of Spain and the turmoil that the people faced as the inquisition spread deeper into Spain; raping, murdering and pillaging all those that stood in its way; all in the name of the Almighty God.

Luis de Santangel is portrayed as a simple man who silently wants peace, but does not voice his opinions too loudly. He is careful for his family's sake, as he has a son and a close cousin to care for. Yet Luis is struggling to make peace with his inner self, as he questions the faith of the Christianity that he has been brought up in, yet still has a fervor for the Jewish traditions within the secrets of his heredity. Luis and some of his peers began to hold secret meetings regarding these questions which eventually backfire on them all and send them into the very pits of hell within the Spanish Inquisition. Even being a Chancellor to the king does not save the tragic fate of Luis' friends and family members.

Judith's story is more simple and not as politically entrenched as Luis', as she is merely a pious woman struggling to take care of a nephew and an old man. Her character is constructed in such a way that makes the reader empathize with her: the embodiment of the plight of the Jewish people as they are ultimately expelled from Spain. When her brother dies, she is forced to learn the trade of silver-working and survives adequately enough with this as a Jewish woman in Granada. When Luis meets her, he is enchanted with her but can do nothing about it, since she is Jewish he can not afford to have any contact with her.

Eventually, life as Luis knows it twists into a horrible existence as the very crown that he works for has allowed his family to be taken from him and subjected to the tortures at the hands of the inquisitors. What comes forth is a heartfelt journey and struggle that ultimately leads Luis to Judith, but only temporarily, as he is also detained by the inquisitors. Who will survive and what will remain after the inquisition is what the reader is left to speculate on and what propels the story forward.

By Fire, By Water was a heart wrenching tale told with skill and details that makes me wonder at the tenacity of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Why were they so driven to unify Spain when it meant to force their subjects to their own religion or face torture and death? How could they see the righteousness in that? And the pope even sanctioned the inquisition. The romantic visage that I had been fed via Tudor fiction regarding Catherine of Aragon's faithful yet warrior mother has been obliterated by the horrors that Queen Isabella sanctioned all in the name of her religion. How I once admired the strength or fortitude that was exaggerated in my learning of Isabella is a shame to me now. This was just one part of the story, although a big one, as it became a sordid tale of survival of the fittest during a time of religious insanity. Conversos were given little choice as they battled with their beliefs versus survival. I am saddened that many millions of schoolchildren like myself are fed such grandiose ideas about King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella when they are taught about Christopher Columbus sailing the ocean blue as opposed to exploitation. There are many sides to the story, and on this one in particular the author does not expand upon, but leaves his reader grappling with the ideas of both the inquisition and the promise of a new world. A new world for whom? And who has rights to who, and why?

Mitchell James Kaplan has effectively written a powerful story that I will always remember. Although steeped with religious views and questions, it did not preach any, as it merely explored the depths of one's soul using the characters of Luis de Santangel and Judith Migdal. As a Catholic, I was deeply saddened to learn the truth of the persecution of the Jewish and Muslim faiths. The questions that were put forth were very thought provoking and I was intrigued once I understood the characters and their unique stories. The image of the King and Queen of Spain will never be the same again for me and I wonder if in the religious zeal of Isabella if she was perhaps touched by some of that madness that her own daughter Juana was said to have. For anyone interesting in the Spanish Inquisition, this is a take that is wonderfully told, for despite the harrowing subject matter, I felt better for reading it. ...more

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Sep 21, 2010 Jennifer rated it it was amazing

One should probably not say they enjoyed a book about the Spanish Inquisition, but those are my thoughts exactly. I never read about the Inquisition before, but I had a general idea of what it was about. Mitchell's book only brings a small slice of the Inquisition to life, but what an interesting slice he chose.

The story takes place six years before the discovery of the Americas, a time of great upheaval in the Iberian peninsula. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand are currently waging a holy war One should probably not say they enjoyed a book about the Spanish Inquisition, but those are my thoughts exactly. I never read about the Inquisition before, but I had a general idea of what it was about. Mitchell's book only brings a small slice of the Inquisition to life, but what an interesting slice he chose.

The story takes place six years before the discovery of the Americas, a time of great upheaval in the Iberian peninsula. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand are currently waging a holy war on two fronts: against the Muslims in Spain and against anyone not a Catholic. The new Inquisition in Spain provides great riches to both the Spanish throne and the Church. Anyone deemed a heretic has all of their property and possessions confiscated and given to Church and State. Wars are costly, no?

All of the characters in Mitchell's story deal with inner turmoil and crisis, but none more so than Santangel. He is divided and questioning himself in most of the areas of his life: family versus court duties, Judaism versus Catholicism, the memory of his wife versus Judith, a Jewish woman he has fallen for. Santangel is a wise, learned man and the most natural thing for him to do is to discuss and debate his thoughts on religion and the state of the country. However, to discuss and compare faiths is heresy, and threatens to stifle Santangel, until he finds others who share his interests. This only leads to disaster and Santangel making tough decisions.

All Santangel wants is to live in peace, in a world that is free. And that is why Columbus' theories about a new world and trading route to India pique Santangel's interest so much. Could it be possible that there is a land, a Paradise, where everyone is peaceful and free? Columbus' proposed voyage is a godsend to Santangel and gives him hope that it is indeed greener on the other side. Hope is a powerful thing.

I enjoyed this book because I was vested in Santangel. I empathized very strongly with him, maybe because I have been questioning my faith of late. I also thought Kaplan's characterizations of the major players of the time were also richly portrayed. This made for a complete picture of the situation at the time in Spain. All points of view in conjunction with their resulting inner turmoil and tension made this story a fascinating read:

Queen Isabella is compelled to fight this holy war against the Muslims and those who murdered Jesus. Her faith compels her to do this. Isabella has doubts from time to time, but in her heart she feels she is doing the right thing. She is doing God's work. Maybe her holy war will convince her husband to be more holy too. (It doesn't.)
Father Torquemada is rooting out evil and doing the Lord's work. This priest is so fervent in his beliefs that he "sees" a spirit who confirms that what Torquemada is doing is right and just. The Jews put Jesus to death, and therefore their religion is wrong. Any means necessary must be utilized to ferret out those who don't believe in Jesus and his church. Torture of the human body only purifies the soul. I did get a sense that Torquemada may have wrestled with some guilt over his actions of torture. However, he then realized that some of the fortune he confiscated would go towards building a beautiful abbey for the glory of God, so it's all good in the end.
Gabriel, Santangel's son, wants to be the good son his father wants him to be, however his father isn't around much. The things his father taught him start to fade away, and Gabriel must find his own way when faced with a terrible choice. Gabriel survives the best way he can, and no one can fault his choice.
The Muslims in Granada would like to be left alone, but this is not to be. Muslims respect other faiths and allow them to live and work within their communities, as long as they abide by the rules of the city. Muslims accept people for who they are and respect all faiths. Unfortunately the Catholics do not.
Judith Migdal never having experienced the Inquisition does not know what she is in store for. Once Granada is conquered and all things reconsecrated for God, Judith must leave the life she has built for herself. Although not easy for her, Judith was lucky enough to have lived with people who were accepting.
King Ferdinand...well he is just looking for more wealth, power, women, and wars. Not much there.
Columbus just wants someone to finance his voyage to "India."
For many people, religion is so much more than mere faith. It is a person's culture, their way of life and family. This book demonstrated how tight the ties between faith and family are. It also demonstrated what harmony among various faiths could be with the discussions and depiction of life in Granada. No one faith is better. We are searching for the same thing, just maybe taking a different route.
This book was so well written and the topic, although gruesome at times, was beautifully depicted. This story also pointed out my lack of knowledge about Spain's history, and that of the Muslims too. I totally enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from this amazing writer.
...more

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Jan 02, 2011 Kim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: war, for-review, historical-fiction

By Fire, By Water is former screenwriter Mitchell James Kaplan’s first novel. Set during 15th-Century Spain, By Fire, By Water takes the reader on a journey through Spain during the time of the Inquisition and the expansion of the Spanish empire. The novel is told with exquisite detail (six years of research!) and rich, layered characters.

King Ferdinand’s chancellor and close friend Luis de Santangel thinks that the Spanish Inquisition has done nothing but create a landscape of fear and paranoi By Fire, By Water is former screenwriter Mitchell James Kaplan’s first novel. Set during 15th-Century Spain, By Fire, By Water takes the reader on a journey through Spain during the time of the Inquisition and the expansion of the Spanish empire. The novel is told with exquisite detail (six years of research!) and rich, layered characters.

King Ferdinand’s chancellor and close friend Luis de Santangel thinks that the Spanish Inquisition has done nothing but create a landscape of fear and paranoia in Spain. Fed up with the power-hungry inquisitor, General Tomás de Torquemada, he sets out with friend Christopher Columbus to Rome in the hopes that the Pope will somehow intervene. Santangel is especially nervous not only for himself, but his son and brother, because they come from a long line of conversos. (Conversos are families who were formerly of the Jewish faith but have made the transition over to Catholicism). Santangel has been having secret meetings with his aide, a Catholic priest named Caceres, and a Jewish scribe, discussing the theological differences between Judaism and Catholicism. Fearful that these meetings will be discovered after his aide is put to death for his defiance of the teachings of the Catholic Church, Santangel and Caceres hire an assassin to kill an influential priest responsible for his aide’s torture and subsequent death. Witnessing the religious climate around him becoming more hostile, Santangel begins to turn to his roots in the Jewish faith in an increasingly anti-Semitic atmosphere. Santangel must try to escape persecution for the contract killing, as well as deal with his ever-growing love for Judith, a silver craftswomen, all while deciding what is more important to him: his faith or his life.

Kaplan does an absolutely superb job weaving the storylines of Santangel, Judith, Columbus, and the King and Queen of Spain together. Their individual stories come together effortlessly in this bloggers opinion. Kaplan is a born writer, with his eloquent writing style drawing you in from page one. It is so apparent that he researched this story, as it is just bursting at the seams with intricate detail. I honestly felt like I could visually see everything Kaplan was describing from the landscapes of Spain and Granada all the way down to the detail of the characters’ clothing and jewelry. It is by far one of the best parts about the novel.

The characters of this story, as I stated earlier, are so rich and layered. Santangel is one hell of a protagonist. There are so many layers and depths to him. You think you know how he is feeling and what kind of reaction he’ll have and then BAM you get hit with another layer. The character of Judith is one of the only people in the story who didn’t exist in real life. You’d never know it! Kaplan gives her a fantastic back story that rivals that of the actual real life stories of the other characters. That’s one of my favorite things about historical fiction, the way in which it ties fiction and non-fiction together. To know all along that this story has roots in reality makes it even more exciting.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I am so glad Mr. Kaplan got in touch with me to review this book!! He wrote a book for an adult mind and in doing so he has cemented his place in the literary world. I am so excited to read his future works, as he has definitely become one of my favorite authors.

Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://lifeand100books.wordpress.com/... ...more

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About Mitchell James Kaplan

Mitchell James Kaplan

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Mitchell James Kaplan is a cum laude graduate of Yale University, where he won the Paine Memorial Prize. His first mentor was author William Styron. Following college, he lived in Paris and Southern California. Currently he lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Mitchell James Kaplan's 2010 novel, By Fire, By Water, won numerous literary awards both domestically and abroad. Into The Unbou ...more