A charismatic figure traverses Europe, followers in tow. The latest novel by the Polish Nobel Prize winner to appear in English is a behemoth, both in size and subject matter: At nearly 1,000 pages, the book tackles the mysteries of heresy and faith, organized religion and splinter sects, 18th-century Polish and Lithuanian history, and some of the finer points of cabalist and Hasidic theology. At its center is the historical figure Jacob Frank, who, in the mid-1750s, was believed to be the Messiah by a segment of Jews in what is now Ukraine. Jacob preached that the end times had come and that morality, as embodied by the Ten Commandments, had been turned on its head. He led his followers to convert first to Islam and then, later, to Christianity. He himself was accused of heresy by all three major groups. Tokarczuk's account is made up of short sections that alternate among various points of view. These include some of Jacob's followers, a bishop with a gambling problem, a noblewoman who self-interestedly supports the "Contra-Talmudists' " attempt to convert to Christianity, and Jacob's grandmother Yente, who is neither dead nor entirely alive, a state that allows her consciousness to roam widely, observing the novel's action. Gritty details about the realities of daily life at the time alternate with dense passages in which Jacob's followers argue about theology. "The struggle is about leaving behind that point where we divide everything into evil and good," one says, "light and darkness, getting rid of all those foolish divisions and from there starting a new order all over again." The book (which has been beautifully translated into English by Croft) has been widely hailed as Tokarczuk's magnum opus, and it will likely take years, if not decades, to begin to unravel its rich complexities. A massive achievement that will intrigue and baffle readers for years to come. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Nobel laureate Tokarczuk's subtle and sensuous masterpiece (after Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead) weaves together the stories of characters searching for a meaningful life and spiritual truth in Eastern and Southeastern Europe during the second half of the 18th century. The novel's wide cast includes Nahman, a Jewish merchant who has abandoned his familial responsibilities to study religious philosophy; and Moliwda, a Polish Christian ashamed of his past and intrigued by Judaism. They are connected by their fascination with the novel's central character, Jacob Frank, a charismatic Jewish merchant who proclaims himself the Messiah and gathers a following with his erotic and liberated vision of life. Jacob's Jewish followers are encouraged to eat religiously banned food products and get baptized, and--importantly for the libidinous Jacob--adultery is no longer frowned upon among his following. Readers are rewarded throughout with tender and ebullient moments, such as the jubilant dancing of Jacob and his followers as they wait to cross into Polish territory on a mission to spread his message. Nahman and Moliwda spend a good deal of time holding conversations on conundrums that are difficult for them to square, such as life's difficulty despite the purported goodness of God. In the hands of Tokarczuk and Croft, these concerns feel real and vital--the result of Tokarczuk's deep investment in her material. This visionary work will undoubtedly be read and talked about by lovers of literature for years to come. (Feb.)

Described as Polish Nobel laureate Tokarczuk's magnum opus, this impressively sprawling story reveals the life and times of Jacob Frank, an eighteenth-century Jewish messianic figure. Frank is enigmatically charismatic and incredibly disruptive: a self-described "simpleton" sporting Turkish garb who violates social norms. Opening in 1752 in Rohatyn, a Polish market town, and passing through numerous other European and Ottoman locales, the novel delves into the circumstances that shaped and elevated Frank, including the fact that Jews were forbidden from buying land and overburdened by taxes, and therefore seeking deliverance. In this bizarre, intricate journey based in history, Frank and his followers come to reject the Talmud and, eventually, convert to Catholicism. With language that's engaging, erudite, and spiced with witty colloquialisms and wonderful turns of phrase via Jennifer Croft's supple translation, Tokarczuk explores the state of being an outsider in places with fixed cultural boundaries and how Frank tries to work the system to his and his followers' advantage. Among the intriguing, diverse cast are Nahman, Frank's ardent supporter, and Yente, a dying woman whose spirit views events from above. A wealth of fine quotidian detail and brilliantly connected narrative threads draw the reader in. With its length, dozens of characters, and theological discussions, Tokarczuk's panoramic tale requires commitment, but it is masterful.

Tokarczuk (Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead) elicits understanding, if not sympathy, for the 18th-century professed messiah and convicted heretic Jacob Frank as his story is told through the eyes of his Sabbatean Jew followers and skeptics and persecutors both Jewish and Christian, as well as the all-seeing gaze of his grandmother, Yente. Yente's perspective spans all eras of this epic novel, guiding listeners through a complex web of characters, many of whom have multiple names or adopt new ones when Frank preaches conversion. Unable to assign unique voices to all, Gilli Messer adjusts dialogue according to age and background, but her energetic pace thwarts casual listening. Supporting narrator Allen Lewis Rickman reads a single character's epistolary chapters with welcome distinction and authenticity, suggesting that a full-cast recording like the 2020 Polish-language audiobook would have helped keep listeners oriented. Nevertheless, Messer's bright voice captures much of the author's and translator's use of humor to ground major events in the mundanities of lives affected, especially women's. VERDICT Demand will be high for Croft's translation of Nobel Laureate Tokarczuk's masterpiece, which rewards a close reading in print or a distraction-free listen.--Lauren Kage