001 - Chapters 1 and 2

In mid-19th century London, Reuben Sachs is a promising lawyer with political ambitions that steer clear of a conventional marriage to Judith Quixano, the daughter of a respectable yet unremarkable family. For Judith, who finds herself navigating a society that offers her few options—either a loveless marriage or a life of dependency—Reuben’s presence symbolizes a glimmer of hope. Amy Levy, a pioneering feminist, Jew, and lesbian, sheds light on the complexities of Anglo-Jewish cultural norms and the struggle of would-be independent women in Victorian society. In contrast to the idealized portrayals in contemporary literature, such as George Eliots Daniel Deronda, Levy presents a raw and honest depiction of middle-class Jewish life in late-19th century London in REUBEN SACHS. While many of her peers viewed the book as a shanda fur die goyim (an embarrassment), Oscar Wilde praised its directness, uncompromising truths, depth of feeling, and the absence of superfluous words, deeming it a classic. Born in London in 1861 and educated at Newnham College, Cambridge, Levy was part of a vibrant social circle that included Beatrix Potter and Eleanor Marx, as well as her lover Vernon Lee (Violet Padget). (Summary by Adrian Praetzellis)