People of the Book: A Novel

In 1996, Australian rare-book expert Hanna Heath is hired to analyze and conserve the Sarajevo Haggadah, a celebrated illuminated manuscript rescued from shelling during the Bosnian war. When Heath discovers tiny artifacts embedded in the book's ancient binding—an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, and a white hair—she begins uncovering its history. Through these clues, the narrative traces the manuscript's journey across centuries. In Bosnia during World War II, a Muslim protects it from the Nazis. In fin-de-siècle Vienna, it becomes entangled in conflicts over rising anti-Semitism. A Catholic priest saves it from burning during the Inquisition in Venice. In Barcelona in 1492, the scribe who created the text witnesses his family's destruction through forced exile. In Seville in 1480, the origins of the Haggadah's illuminations are revealed. Heath's investigation draws her into the world of art forgers and ultra-nationalist extremists, testing her convictions and her relationship with a man she loves. Inspired by a true story, the novel weaves together historical detail with emotional depth.