It was Purim a few days ago. I even went to my local Purim Spiel, (Bageljuice), which takes place every year at the Phoenix Theatre at Elwood College, my school, though the theatre was not built when I was a student there.
I did read this novel many years ago, but couldn’t get it in ebook until now. To my delight, it is available, though only on Kindle; I prefer Apple Books. Apple Books does have it in audiobook, but not ebook.
Norah Lofts’ books are all historical fiction. There is one about Anne Boleyn. Another one, How Far To Bethlehem, is the Christmas story seen through the eyes of the Magi, who all have back stories and personalities. There is even a reason for the gold, myrrh and frankincense, nothing to do with religion.
Her style is light and very readable.
This novel is, of course, about Queen Esther, heroine of the Bible book under her name. She is an intelligent young woman who lives with her cousin Mordecai, the two of them reading and discussing books until they need money, then working for a while - Mordecai is a tradesman, Esther is very good at cooking and gets jobs preparing banquets for rich people.
And one day, the king sends out notices offering his hand in marriage to whichever girl can please him enough, and Mordecai talks her into entering the competition because he has a feeling she might be able to do something important some day. She is chosen, not for her beauty, though she is attractive, but for her brain. And then, as you’ll know if you have read the Bible or seen an Esther film(there are several), she saves her people.
There was an introduction by the author, which must have been added to the ebook, or perhaps a later edition(there are twenty six editions !) because I don’t remember it, and Norah Lofts explains her thoughts behind it and adds that it’s a YA novel. That never occurred to me, but as I’ve said, it’s easy reading. I might even, after this reread, think of it being suited to kids from about twelve upwards.
You don’t have to have read the Bible to enjoy this novel, but I confess I rather like the Megillah. It starts with Persian King Ahasueras throwing a huge party for the rulers of his various provinces, getting drunk(“The king’s heart was merry with wine”) and ordering his Queen,Vashti, to show herself to his guests. When she says no, his advisers beg him to divorce her because otherwise their wives will make their lives miserable. Yes, it’s all there in the Bible! In the novel, Vashti is delighted to get that divorce and flees home to Petra on a mule she brought with her, before her husband can change his mind.
And then there is the villain, Haman, plotting to kill all the Jews in the empire because Mordecai has refused to bow down to him. Of course, he is defeated.
The Megillah is read aloud on Purim, and kids boo Haman and cheer Esther and Mordecai, and make a lot of noise with noisemakers when Haman is mentioned.
I have a beautiful Megillah which I bought years ago, illustrated.
I told the story to the kids at my school, as part of a Diversity day. One of my colleagues, with a silly wig, held up signs saying Boo or Hurray at the appropriate spots. When the kids were leaving after school I gave them each a chocolate frog, as giving gifts of food is one of the traditions - as is wearing costumes and doing amateur drama(hence the Purim Spiel).
The novel is fun, not a work of genius, but well worth a read.
