The Golden Bell by Robert L Stone

 The Golden Bell 

by Robert L Stone

The Golden Bell by Robert L Stone was published in September 2022 by White Fox. My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Random Book Tours for inviting me to take part on the tour.

Synopsis

Arriving in Córdoba as a young man in 1088 to learn medicine, Yehuda Halevi is enchanted by a world in which Muslim, Jewish and Christian courtiers share poetry and philosophy in their elegant gardens. Here he falls in love with Deborah, the spirited daughter of his host. In this turbulent world, however, Yehuda also encounters invasions and pirates, book burnings and bandits.

Driven by conflict to move from city to city, Yehuda and Deborah are often parted – but always in the hope that they will one day return together to Córdoba. As Yehuda’s fame grows as a poet and as a philosopher, his writings become increasingly mystical but also increasingly restless, for he yearns to travel to the holy city of Jerusalem. In 1140, as an old man, he must finally decide whether to stay with his family or begin the perilous voyage towards Egypt and Crusader Jerusalem…

In this beautifully evocative story, Robert L. Stone transports the reader to twelfth-century Andalucía as he traces the extraordinary life of a man determined to devote himself – and his exceptional talent – to a greater truth.

My Review

This is an incredibly interesting and unusual story which follows the life of the 12th century poet Yehuda Halevi in such a way as to draw the reader into the life and times at the start of what could have been an era of religious uncertainty in Southern Spain. What it extraordinarily shows though is the tolerance all the different religious factions had towards each other  and how each of the leaders interacted with Yehuda as he progressed through his life. The book shows how the different groups learned to live and, at times, work together for the benefit of all which carried on for a further three centuries  after the end of Yehuda's story.

Robert is undoubtedly a learned historian who is able to put his thoughts eloquently on the page through the narrative of yehuda and show us how he managed to gain, quite rightly, everyone's trust through his use of poetry and valued medical knowledge.

As we follow the life of Yehuda we learn about his loves and aspirations and the calmness with which her managed those around him whilst earning himself, quite rightly, the reputation of being one of the greatest Hebrew poets. Because of this he was able to live easily with both the Muslims and the Christians before finally in 1140 making the decision as to whether he should stay with his family or, follow his head and go to Israel.

By following the love story of Yehuda and Deborah, Robert takes the book away from just being an historical piece of fiction and adds depth to the story, and intrigue for the reader, as their relationship develops.

I have learnt so much about what life was like in Southern Spain in the 12th Century, an area of the country that I love for its historical richness from this incredible book.

About the Author

Having gained a PhD in history and political anthropology from Cambridge University, Robert L. Stone has worked for many years advising governments on strategies to fight poverty, particularly in the wake of conflicts. He has a lifelong interest in how different cultures and ethnicities relate to each other - this, combined with his love of literature, is the inspiration for The Golden Bell.