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The First Mrs. Rothschild: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Sara Aharoni (Author), Yardenne Greenspan (Translator) Format: Kindle Edition

4.2 9,056 ratings

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In this award-winning historical saga, passionate young lovers in a Jewish ghetto rise to become the foremost financial dynasty in the world.

It is the turn of the eighteenth century in Frankfurt, Germany, and young Gutle and Meir Amschel Rothschild struggle to establish themselves in the cramped and restricted Judengasse. But when Meir’s talents as a novice banker catch the attention of a German prince, Meir is suddenly afforded entrée into the European world of finance and nobility, and the Rothschilds’ lives are changed forever. As proud as Gutle is of her husband’s success, she is also cautious—very much aware of the fact that her husband’s rise is tied to his patrons’ willingness to “see past” his Jewishness. As their family grows, and a dream of fortune comes true, so does their belief that money will ultimately bring the power needed to establish Jewish civil rights.

Told through Gutle’s intimate journals, revealed across decades—from the French Revolution through personal tragedies and triumphs—The First Mrs. Rothschild paints a rich and intimate tapestry of family drama, world-changing history, and one woman’s steadfast strength.

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About the Author

Sara Aharoni was born in Israel in 1953. She worked as a teacher, educator, and school principal for twenty years. She also spent four years in Lima, Peru, as an educational envoy of the Jewish Agency. Together with her husband, Meir Aharoni, Sara wrote, edited, and published a series of books about Israel, as well as six children’s books. Sara is the author of the bestselling Saltanat’s Love, based on her mother’s life story and the winner of the Book Publishers Association of Israel’s Platinum Prize, and the Steimatzky Prize–winning novel The First Mrs. Rothschild. Her novel Persian Silence won the Book Publishers Association of Israel’s Gold Book Award.

Yardenne Greenspan has an MFA in fiction and translation from Columbia University. In 2011 she received the American Literary Translators Association Fellowship, and in 2014 she was a resident writer and translator at the Ledig House Writers Omi program. Her translation of Some Day, by Shemi Zarhin (New Vessel Press), was chosen for World Literature Today’s 2013 list of notable translations. Her full-length translations also include Tel Aviv Noir, edited by Etgar Keret and Assaf Gavron (Akashic Books); Alexandrian Summer by Yitzhak Gormezano Goren (New Vessel Press); and The Secret Book of Kings by Yochi Brandes (St. Martin’s Press). Yardenne blogs for Ploughshares and served as Asymptote’s editor-at-large of Israeli literature. Her writing and translations have appeared in the New Yorker, Haaretz, Guernica, Asymptote, the Massachusetts Review, and Words Without Borders, among other publications.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07MMMVPRB
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon Crossing (July 9, 2019)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 9, 2019
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4528 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 484 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #169,651 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #204 in Historical Biographical Fiction
- #225 in Biographical Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #438 in Biographical Historical Fiction

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4.2 9,056 ratings

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Sara Aharoni

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Sara Aharoni was born in Israel in 1953. She worked as a teacher, educator and school principal for 20 years. She also spent four years in Lima, Peru, as an educational envoy of the Jewish Agency. Together with her husband, Meir Aharoni, Sara wrote, edited and published a series of books about Israel, including six in English. She has also published six children’s books.

In 2008, Aharoni published her debut novel, Saltanat's Love, based on her mother's life story, and it became a bestseller. Her third novel, Mrs. Rothschild's Love, went instantly to the top of the Israeli bestseller list. Aharoni received the Book Publishers Association's Platinum Prize for her first novel (2010) and the Steimatzky Prize for best-selling book of the year for Mrs. Rothschild's Love (2016). Her forth novel, Persian Silence, which takes place in the time of the revolution in Iran, went also instantly to the top of the Israeli bestseller list.

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4.2 out of 5

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Stephen G: Japan & UK

Fascinating!

Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2023

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From the first page, this captivating novel drew me in - especially because I also purchased the audio version which is read so beautifully.

I do not know how much of the novel is based in reality, but whether it is historical fiction based on historical fact, or pure fiction, it is well worth reading.

I recommend it as a tale of overcoming difficulties while retaining integrity, and also as a love story portraying the love of the "first" Mrs Rothschild for her husband, children, grandchildren and eventually great grandchildren, and their love for her.

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2023

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Quite an interesting story about the start of the Rothschild dynasty. Very eye opening about all the restrictions placed on the Jews at that time. Wonderful characters and such detailed explanations of the people and events in that time.

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AnnetteBReviews

Interesting Historical Background Slow Narrative

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2021

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The First Mrs. Rothschild brings a story of Gutle who married Meir Amschel Rothschild – a German-Jewish banker and the founder of the Rothschild banking dynasty.

Frankfurt, 1770. Gutle, daughter of a Jewish moneylender from Judengasse, is engaged to Meir Rothschild after her father’s two rejections. The noble title given recently to young Rothschild changes her father’s mind.

Meir studied in Hanover and saw how different Jewish ghetto was there. The one in Frankfurt is much more oppressed. This experience gives him a different perspective. He sees that the power is in the money, which carries dignity, and he plans on earning plenty of dignity. He sees it as a powerful thing, breaking the walls of the ghetto and setting Jews free.

The atmosphere of the ghetto is very vividly portrayed and its history, and that’s what initially grabbed my attention.

Gutle is not a grasping character. She comes across as needy and constantly needing her husband’s reassurance that he loves her. When an opportunity comes for her to learn bookkeeping, she hesitates as her hands are full with household chores. Then, her successful bookkeeping lasts for about a paragraph. And then, it’s back to her chores, children and telling about Meir.

Meir is a very interesting character. He is very ambitious and driven, and he caught my attention. However, the style of writing is telling, not showing. For example, Meir “continues to address the heads of Holy Roman Empire with requests to remove the decrees, widen our street, and allow Jews out of the ghetto.” This is exactly what I wanted to be shown, developed in the story, not told in one sentence.

The story is set during volatile times, including Napoleonic wars. The historical background, especially of the ghetto history, is very interesting. However, I found Mrs. Rothschild uninspiring. I wished the story was told from the POV of Mr. Rothschild and shown.

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Carolina

Well documented delight, Meir and wife Gutle Rochchild's story 1770

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2021

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This book is not for everyone, the format of reading a woman's diary of her life can be too tedious, but that slow pace is attractive to me. The back and forth of learning Meir's life and business brilliance and Gutle's determined attitude to protect and help all who touch her is a delight. I read it the first time for the story of her marriage of Gutle to Meir and their life together in the Frankfort Germany Ghetto in 1770-1843 was a lovely love story. I will read it again to understand the brilliance of the banking and bold risks that Meir initiated along with his 5 sons. The author teaches her story well. The growth of the people in the story is engrossing, and I appreciate so much more of the changes that Meir and family brought to the life of Jews. Years ago I was in a hospital waiting room when I observed 2 bodyguards at the edges of the room. I was with my mother in law who had a seat, I was eventually able to sit near my mother in law. She instantly introduced me to "Mrs Rothchild" that was also waiting her turn. We 3 chatted like old friends, with no interferance from the body guards. I never knew which Mrs. Rothchild I had just met, but I knew she had traveled from Europe for treatment at the clinic. This was in the 1990's, and I saw so much of Gutle and her life's attitude in this lady, that makes this novel so real in so many ways. It is a powerful story of a small beginning to a compassionate successful end, honoring so many of those who came before us. Sara Aharoni has done a beautiful job, I will be looking for any other of her books that might be translated into English. 5 stars

2 people found this helpful

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Breanne

More of a 4.5

Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2024

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The book is exceptionally written. The only reason why it isn't a 5 star is because there are a lot of events that occur as well as each event being highly detailed. It made it to where I could only read a journal entry or two at a time or I found I would forget and/or confuse events. I think it would have been better if it was broken up into 2 or 3 books instead of 1. There were a few "what the ..." moments but that is due to the different customs and the different times than what many of us are accustomed to. Those moments didn't take anything from the quality of the book.

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dolores padilla najera

muy buen libro

Reviewed in Mexico on February 20, 2024

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excelente

Eugene Alfonso Van Delsen

The GREAT woman behind the IMPORTANT man.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 1, 2021

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Although it is supposed to be a novel, I enjoyed every line of the story of Mrs. Rothschild. Knowing the story of the MAN ROTSCHILD it was interesting to read how the wife of such a man reacted to life circumstances.
It is still "Cherchez la Femme." in this story.

JEK

I learned a lot about Jewish life in the 18th and 19th century

Reviewed in Canada on February 17, 2020

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A fascinating book of interest to Jews and Gentiles. It is somewhat incomprehensible to understand the persecution and restrictions that were in place in these years. It is a very good insight into the drive and ambition of one man and how his family absorbed those ambitions to create a dynasty in the financial world. But the book also provides an insight into the privations and misery that affected so many in the time. Infant mortality and other issues required a strong faith and morals. A very interesting insight along with a true to life retelling of history.

2 people found this helpful

Shweta

Heart touching heart warming

Reviewed in India on July 16, 2020

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Loved this book from the first page till the very end...
This book is all about ambition,love & perseverance...
Must read...

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