Geraldine Brooks

Historical Fiction 2008/ 372 pages

Geraldine Brooks’s People of the Book is a historical fiction novel about a book conservator named Dr. Hanna Heath and her intensive research on the history of the famous Sarajevo Haggadah, rediscovered in 1894 in Sarajevo.  Hannah says that she doesn’t restore books, she conserves them.  We follow her from her home in Sydney across the world in 1996.  The book is an imagined history following the real clues found in the manuscript, and the novel jumps back and forth between Hanna’s findings and historical events that brought the book to its current home in the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

People of the Book is a fascinating, deep read.  Brooks is a truly excellent author and has written many laudable books.  Hanna must hypothesize what might have led to her finding an insect wing, a wine stain, saltwater, a white hair, and the absence of silver feather and rose clasps on the book.  While Brooks must imagine the scenarios that lead to each of these objects, she makes up realistic, rich, believable scenarios, with profound emotional intensity and strong characters.  All these discoveries are fiction, however the book itself is inspired by a true story. 

People of the Book is also quite a challenging read.  At least, I found it so.  The fictional pieces take place in a geography I simply do not know:  Vienna, Sarajevo, Bosnia, Croatia, Herzegovina, Seville, Córdoba, Venice,  Serbia, Yugoslavia.  And the discoveries happen in historical times I know nothing about, such as The Inquisition. According to Brook’s telling, the items are introduced into the book in 1480, 1492, 1609, 1894, and 1940.

It took me many days to read this fine work.  It is NOT a beach read.  But it is a learning experience all on its own and I do recommend it.

May 2026