Rashi's Daughters, Book III: Rachel: A Novel of Love and the Talmud in Medieval France

Take a journey to France in the eleventh century and witness the life of Rachel, Rashi's youngest daughter. Rashi is a Jewish scholar and he has made sure his three daughters are educated in the Talmud. Rashi has high hopes for favorite daughter Rachel. Rachel has married a worthy man who cherishes her and understands her calling in life. Rachel plans to follow in her fathers footsteps and become a scholar. When a war breaks out, all thoughts and hopes must be put aside because survival becomes the most important goal. Rashi has a stroke and Rachel is determined to stay by his side even when her husband demands they flee to Spain. Decisions must be made even if it means hurting people you love. Will Rachel make the right choice and live happily ever after? A beautiful story that will warm even the coldest of hearts. If you believe in the strength of family bonds, I think you would enjoy this book.

Anton, Maggie. "Rashi Daughters, Book III: Rachel: A Novel of Love and the Talmud in Medieval France", Penguin Plume, 2009. The Last Daughter Amos Lassen Maggie Anton completes her trilogy of Rashi's Daughters with book III, "Rachel". Rachel is the youngest and most beautiful daughter of Rashi and her father's favorite. Eliezer, her new husband, adores her and her life is one of peace and love. However this is threatened when the marauders of the First Crusade kill nearly the entire Jewish population of Germany and her father has a stroke. Eliezer, fearing what happened in Germany, wants his family to move to Spain but Rachel does not want to leave France or the yeshiva of her father. The historical details are absolutely amazing and once again Maggie Anton has done her homework well. Taking this together with the author's love of Talmud makes this a fascinating read. The book is every bit as good as its two predecessors. We see that study of Torah is a never ending exercise and this story shows just that. Anton, in my mind, can do no wrong. She once again gives us beautifully written historical fiction with just the right amount of Judaism thrown in I am only sorry that Rashi had only three daughters (although many think that there was a fourth who died at birth). I hate to close the trilogy and would love to read more but I am sure that wherever Maggie Anton takes us next will be an exciting adventure.

I had no doubt that this book would be as excellent as the first two - I ordered as quickly as I could when I realized it was available. And! I am recommending it to people as a "must read". As most of us who study Torah know, it is a never-ending learning/education - and these books are a perfect example. I always, always learn something within these books. The historical side smacks us in the face with the horrors that Jewish communities went through and it is so hard to comprehend the terror those people had to have felt. I know that I felt suffocated when reading about those trapped in the bishop's home - and their slaughter. It's interesting to see their reactions to eclipses or star showers - and what they think it must portend. To see a continuation of the families and their joys and heartaches was fulfilment - I'll miss them, but I look forward to whatever Maggie Anton has to offer us down the road in future books and future travels. Something about Babylon was mentioned - that should be very interesting.

I have learned to love each of Rashi's daughters thanks to the skillful writing of Maggie Anton. I loved the stories about their lives and I loved learning a bit of Talmud and what life was like in Medieval France at the time that Rashi lived. I wish that Rashi had had another daughter for her to write about and I anxiously await Maggie Anton's next book.

I'm not a reader of romance novels, but I am a fan of historical fiction -- if the work at hand is well-researched, imaginative and believable. The first two books in Maggie Anton's "Rashi Daughters" trilogy fit those criteria and I'm happy to report so does the finale. The opening hostage scene of "Book III: Rachel" is a good example. The historic details of this kidnapping seem true to its time-period; the scene proves an exciting teaser without any foreseeable conclusion; and its unique ransom dilemma fits what we know or are about to find out about the victim's way of life. Author Maggie Anton's analysis of source materials from the predominately Christian culture of medieval France is paired with her passion for Jewish Talmud as a spiritual life source worthy of study today. The story of the latter's leading scholar ends as it began in Book I. It continues in the timeless familial tradition of both faiths -- through the memories of the next generation. Reading the last volume of a great trilogy provides a bittersweet experience. It allows us to follow the characters and plot to a fitting conclusion in a now familiar past one can virtually see and taste. But that very end point leaves us frozen in time on a much-loved and long-traveled road, wanting to go further. Clearly, "Rashi's Daughters, Book III: Rachel," is above leaving any obvious openings for sequels or prequels. This underscores the artistry of an author ready to lead us into different cultures from other centuries past. After promoting this great read, Ms. Anton can get back to work, re-applying her research skills and writing gifts without any need to repeat herself. We don't know where she'll take us next, but my hunch is Ms. Anton already does. Rashi's Daughters, Book 1: JohevedRashi's Daughters, Book II: Miriam: A Novel of Love and the Talmud in Medieval France