Dina's Lost Tribe

by Brigitte Goldstein

When Professor Henner Marcus receives an urgent plea from his niece, Nina Aschauer, he leaves Chicago behind and travels 5,000 miles to France. Nina has finally materialized after a five-year absence, and he is anxious to help her with the trouble she appears to be in. A historian, Nina is irresistibly driven to explore the Pyrenees Mountains for the location of her birth, occurring as her parents fled the Nazis. All she knows is that the name of the place is Valladine, but the name is not found on any map. Her inquiries lead her to an encounter with Alphonse de Sola, a rough-hewn shepherd who offers to take her there. What she finds is love, a medieval outpost arrested in time, and a written codex that thrusts her into the world of Dina Miryan, a medieval Jewish woman. As Henner, Nina, and her best friend, Etoile Assous, decipher the writing, they are irresistibly drawn into the story of this fourteenth-century woman, whose family had fled France following the expulsion in 1306, but who herself had fallen victim to the sexual intrigues of a fiendish priest. The three find themselves embroiled in a world of mystery, adventure, and danger spanning historical bounds.

412 pages, Paperback

First published September 24, 2010

Reviews

[Mirta Trupp · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may not have been in the right frame of mind for this intense, multilayered narrative. There are so many things going on and the POV keeps switching! It was difficult at times to stay engaged. There are three time periods: Present time/70s (?), Nazi Germany, and 700 years ago, with the expulsion of the Jews from France. It's convoluted and jarring; however, there does seem to be one recurring theme. The four main characters, Dina, Nina, Henry and Etoile, face uncertainty and have questions about their faith, their roots, and their future. The threat of persecution, of complacency, of assimilation was real, but so was the hope that the chain would not be broken—that the next generation would be better off and that they would remember...

This is a slow read, the writing is heavy-handed and drawn out. I found myself skipping large sections. I may pick it up at a later date for a second attempt—solely based on other's reviews.

[Mayra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dina’s Lost Tribe is a historical novel that weaves four different stories and spans from the 14th century to our present time.

Henner Marcus is a professor of French Medieval Jewish Philosophy based in Chicago. One day he receives a letter from his cousin, Nina Aschauer, who’s been missing for the last five years. A historian with a brilliant, promising career, she had left Chicago and travelled to France in search of the place she was accidentally born while her parents fled from the Nazis, a remote village in the Pyranees by the name of Valladine, a place not even present in maps.

In the letter, Nina urgently begs him to meet her in Toulouse with a large sum of money. Deeply intrigued and out of concern for his cousin’s safety, Henner makes the 5,000-mile trip. Once in Toulouse, he receives an unexpected package containing a mysterious manuscript. The manuscript appears to be a codex written in medieval Occitan, a language still spoken today in the area of Languedoc. Henner also meets Etoile, a historian and Nina’s best friend.

Together, Henner and Etoile begin deciphering the codex and soon become entranced by the fascinating first-person account and by its author, Dina, a Jewess born into a wealthy, pious family who falls prey to a deceitful, lustful priest and eventually ended up incarcerated in the prison of the Inquisition. Her tale describes the expulsion of the Jews from France in the early 1300s. Thus the novel moves back and forth in time and interweaves Henner’s, Nina’s, Etoile’s and Dina’s persecution stories.

Who is this Dina Miryam? Did she really exist? Is her account real? How is her story connected to Nina’s and why did Nina disappear five years ago into a presumed village no one knows about?

Dina’s Lost Tribe is an interesting, at times engrossing read. The author does a skillful job in keeping each story distinct in flavor from the other. I’m not a historian so I can’t comment on the veracity of the facts, but from a reader’s point of view, the book seems extensively researched. As I read Dina’s tale, I was transported to a time and place where horrible injustices where committed. Like Henner and Etoile, I too was entranced with Dina, a woman who tried to remain brave and strong against all adversity. The author draws interesting parallels between Dina and the old biblical character with the same name. She also explores various themes, such as the hypocrisy of religion, the capacity of one human being to hurt another, the harmful consequences of ignorance and superstition, and the power of one individual to overwhelm and control another.

This is a slow read, for the simple reason that there’s a lot to be absorbed. The paragraphs are often long and written in heavy-handed language. If what you’re looking for is a fast-paced page-turner, this isn’t the book for you. However, it is the perfect novel for those who enjoy history, meaning and depth in their stories. The premise is intriguing and original and I felt I had taken a little history course at the end, which is always a plus.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brigitte Goldstein has produced a novel built on very well-researched Jewish history from the 1300s to present day. Though a work of fiction, it has the feel of reality. Of course much of the story includes real events especially the religious observances as well as the many relocations and deportations of the Jews through the centuries. With the many attempts to expunge all trace of the Jewish faith it is amazing how that faith has kept them going through all the trials and tribulations. It all begins with a centuries-old codex allegedly written by a woman named Miryam who is considered dead to her family after she is defiled by a Cathar priest and leaves her behind at the age of 16 in their exodus, at which time she renames herself Dina. The codex is a letter, or perhaps series of letters written to her sons, raised secretly with what Jewish teachings she is able to provide them although their father is the priest. She is explaining why she did what she did and how it was to protect them.

This book covers a lot of ground and also a few genres. We have historical fact and fiction, romance, fantasy, and war all wrapped up together in a fascinating package. Though many words were unfamiliar to me, I found that the meaning often could be absorbed as the text went on. I did check dictionaries at times, though. I find the medieval text works, but the modern day portions are a bit heavy on the academic side. This said, I still enjoyed the book with its believable historical fiction, so well-written that it makes it hard to believe it is fiction.

The book centers around three distinctive times in Jewish history: the banishment of Jews by King Phillipe of France in the early 1300s, a time of the Inquisitions and heretics; the ousting of Jews from Spain during the Spanish Civil war followed by the Nazi evacuation of Jews from Germany. It was at this time in the late 1930s and early 1940s that the second major story begins, but also ties in with our present day translators as they flee to escape from the Nazi agenda of World War II. During their escape through the Pyrenees mountains our current party must stop for the impending birth, and the mother-to-be is taken to a secret village for the birth. It is referred to as Valladine, and the baby grows up to become a well-respected historian but always feels the pull of the place she calls Valladine. At this point we leave the past and go into the late 20th century where this whole translated story will be presented to the academic world. Altogether an informative yet entertaining book, a rare blend. I enjoyed it as both.

[Charline Ratcliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found “Dina’s Lost Tribe” by author Brigitte Goldstein to be an excellent read. Goldstein writes with an impeccable style and her fictional novel is both captivating and enthralling. Goldstein seamlessly weaves together historical fact with well thought out and plausible fiction and truthfully, the end result is a superb story.

The premise of “Dina’s Lost Tribe” is this: Professor Henner Marcus receives a letter with an urgent request for help from his niece Nina who disappeared without a trace five years earlier. Due to the letter’s tone, Henner is fearful for his niece’s safety. He puts his personal and academic affairs in order and immediately sets out to find her. Following the letter’s postmark, as well as Nina’s covert ramblings, Henner winds up almost five thousand miles away from his Chicago home in a small town located in France close to the Pyrenees Mountains. Once settled in France, Henner follows Nina’s instructions to the letter and impatiently waits for her to find him. While he isn’t happy with Nina’s cloak and dagger requests; he is concerned for her safety and will do nothing to jeopardize it.

Nina, a historian of some repute, has searched all her life for the city of her birth; the city of Valladine. Unable to locate this town on any map, and having no concrete evidence that Valladine even exists, Nina finds herself compelled to explore the Pyrenees Mountains in an attempt to satisfy the insatiable hunger and curiosity that this name stirs up inside her.

Rather than give too much of the plot away I will just end by saying there are two separate stories to be found within the pages of “Dina’s Lost Tribe.” Even though these lives are set centuries apart; Nina’s life in the present seems, at times, to mirror a life that happened seven hundred years ago.

In closing, “Dina’s Lost Tribe” was a riveting read. Both past and present stories were written with skill and a seemingly immense knowledge of history, religious history, religious rites and geography. “Dina’s Lost Tribe” definitely merits a five-star rating and I would say it’s a “must read” for anyone who enjoys fiction, historical fiction or simply being able to sit down and read a “good” book.

(Reviewed in association with Rebecca's Reads).

[Anita D · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Jewish people in France during the 1300's were fleeing the country by way of he Pyrenean Mountains. The Inquisition was rolling through the land and no one was safe. Nina Aschauer, is an american historian who was born in those mountains. Her parents were running trying to find somewhere safe,trying to stay one step ahead of the inquisitors. She goes in search of the place of her birth place but finds that a lot has changed and even the name of the place has been left off every map of the area.

Alphonse de Sola knows of the place she is seeking and leads her to it. He is not a scholar but a shepherd whose family has been in the area for a long time. What she finds there is the story of Dina and how she suffered at the hands of a priest of God.

This is a must read. The things that got to me was the way the author described everything so vividly.Even knowing in my head that these things occurred did not prepare me for the emotional reaction that I had reading about her trials. I highly recommend this book to everyone, young and old.

[Anita Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down through history the Jewish people have been enslaved, ostracized and even genocide was tried. They have not had it easy and the heroine Dina was caught up in one of histories ugliest tirades against the people. The inquisitions were horrid and many jews were forced to flee to other countries or be tortured and killed.

Knowing that Brigitte Goldstein, is scholar who has studied women in the European countries down through the centuries helps the reader understand that the keen detail of this work of fiction is indeed based in facts. Dina's great great great niece goes looking for her birth place, only to find a startling mystery to unravel and a story of subjugation to rival any ever told.

I thoroughly enjoyed the history lessons and the author's point of view. She brings into question the piety of religion that would allow one human being to do the things that Dina experienced. The story is not a simple one but well worth reading.

[Lee Holz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dina’s Lost Tribe is a complex and engaging blend of history, mystery, romance and religion. It is the story of two women in France, one of the fourteenth century and one of the twentieth, one who founds and one who finds a Shangri-La in the French Pyrenees and what happens there over the seven centuries. Highly recommended.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This work of historical fiction weaves together three separate, but inter-related stories, each one occuring in a different time period. The book's narrator is Henry Marcus, a history professor from Chicago, and the time is late 20th century.

Henner, as he is known, receives an urgent plea for help from his cousin, Nina,also a history professor, who disappeared five years before. Traveling to the south of France, per Nina's instruction, he receives a manuscript from her that was written in the 1300's, and is asked to work on its translation. The manuscript was allegedly written by Dina Miryam, a Jewish woman fleeing French persecution who founded Valladine, a community in the Pyrenees Mountains that has remained isolated over the centuries. It is also the place where Nina was born during her parents' escape from the Nazis and where she has returned as an adult when she abandons her academic career.

Henner and Etoile, Nina's friend and also a professor of languages, begin deciphering the "codex" and soon become obsessed with Dina's story. Having been born into a wealthy, pious family, Dina falls prey to a deceitful priest and gives birth to his two sons, who she secretly raises in the Jewish faith. Eventually, she ends up incarcerated in the prison of the Inquisition before fleeing to the mountains and establishing a new community. The parallels with Nina's family in the 1930's become obvious. They, too, sought to escape persecution -- from the Nazis -- and while fleeing over the mountains ended up in Valladine, where Nina herself was born. Eventually, her parents make their way to the U.S., where Henner and Nina are raised.

As the current day story progresses Henner is reunited with Nina in Valladine and becomes caught up in the internal strife enveloping this medieval village. The novel moves back and forth in time and interweaves Nina's, Etoile's and Dina's persecution stories. Henner, it seems to me, is somewhat of a bystander in this novel dominated by strong women.

Brigitte Goldstein, the author and herself a professor of history, has produced an intelligent and well written book. It appears to be thoroughly researched and explores timeless themes, such as the power of religion, anguish in human relationships, ignorance and superstition, and the power of one individual to overwhelm and control another. While the author's writing style and vocabulary can be a bit difficult at times, overall it is a very satisfying read.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story told of the present, the past, and the long-dead past. The present follows Henner to France, where he comes to the aid of his cousin, Nina, even though he does not know what kind of help she really needs. Between them, we learn the story of their past, escaping from Germany's persecution of Jews during WWII, through the mountains and across an ocean. And still, further back in time, we follow the story of Dina, whose letters to her sons have been uncovered after 700 years. As these three time periods mingle, it creates an intricate web of details and characters.
The story is absolutely intriguing, although the jump back and forth in time was often a little confusing. Despite leaps through time, and across an ocean and back, the scenery could easily have been anywhere. Written with a lack of descriptives, I found it difficult to transport myself along with the characters.
Though the characters were believable, I found they all had a similar voice. My favourite of them all was Dina, whose story was the most captivating. She is perfectly flawed, and her strength against diversity won me over instantly.
There is no doubt in my mind that the author is incredibly intelligent. However, after reading the story, I feel a little less so. There is an obvious language barrier, with certain phrases in the book written in French, Hebrew and German, often with no translation given. I felt that I was missing out on something, but refused to run back and forth to the computer for translations.
Overall, a charming historical fiction, heavy on the history.

[Gustine Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dina's Lost Tribe is an exciting historical novel, a riveting read, full of intrigue and mystery.
Certain characters and events are based on the author's extensive knowledge of medieval European history
and research of French Jewry in the early 14th century. However, it is a work of fiction, the product of
Brigitte Goldstein's artistically fertile imagination.
It takes place in locales ranging from Chicago to Southern France, the Pyrenee mountains and Jerusalem, moving seamlessly from the middle ages to the 20th century.
This is the author's third historical novel, but the first one with a Jewish theme. It is a testament to the spirit of "Sherit Yisrael", the remnant of Israel, surviving despite seemingly unsurmountable obstacles.

Brigitte Goldstein is a writer, literary translator and editor, She holds a PH.D. in European History from New York University. Before turning to full-time writing she taught history and worked in publishing. She lives in New Brunswick, NJ, and is an active member of the Highland Park Conservative Synagogue-Congegation Anshe-Emet

[Pennylane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fans will love this novel. The story spans centuries, and the descriptions are intensely detailed. You will be transported through time with a crisp awareness of events. At times, the story can be a big slow going, but you cannot help but get caught up in the lives of the four main characters, Nina, Henner, Etoile and Dina, as each of their intricate tales unfold.

This is the story of Dina, a young Jewish woman who found herself in dire straits during the time of the Inquisition. Her story is told through a manuscript, which is translated by Henner and Etoile in their search for cousin and best friend Nina. What unfolds is a story that will have you wondering about the final page from the very start.

"Dina's Lost Tribe" is quite a fascinating read, and for those who like to fact check as they browse, or are mindful of the rich history of the generations described within the walls of the story, will wallow in the novel's complexity and interconnectedness. The book comes highly recommended.

[Janet Squires · Rating 5 out of 5]

From award-winning writer, Brigitte Goldstein, comes “Dina’s Lost Tribe” – a mystery that weaves together the lives of two women – one from the 14th century and the other from present day. Historical scholar, Goldstein, draws on her extensive knowledge of Jewish and European history to create characters, plot, and setting that ring true and offer readers an experience filled with depth and heart.