Oh my goodness. I suspect this is a book which would be an excellent subject for a thesis! It’s complex and multilayered and is one I’m having to take in very slowly. By way of background, I understand that this is the first part of four written by Mann over a period of some 16 years and is considered by many to be his masterpiece work. I’ve only read a couple of books by Mann, Buddenbrooks and The Magic Mountain. Both are exceptional in different ways and I realised he’s an author who seems forgotten. I have very little knowledge of the Bible and bible stories. This first book examines the story of Jacob and Joseph as outlined in Genesis (I think).
Mann starts with a prelude, Descent into Hell, which defines the setting for later chapters and it required a lot of attention. I was struggling a little, but persevered and the rest of the story, broken down into seven chapters, The story is set around 1300BC in Egypt and Mesopotamia and there are numerous mythological references, along with allusion to Pharaohs and others of note. I recognise biblical characters, Esau, Rachel, Jacob and Joseph, but not familiar at all with their context in this book, or their biblical significance.
I can’t pretend to understand most of this; Mann is exploring themes of Judaism and monotheism alongside multiple gods, myths and legends. It’s not a story that delivers on first listen…I think I’d prefer a written text to reference alongside the audio version. In other words, it’s a profound book and deserves full attention and understanding. The narration is exceptional and has kept me listening. It’s a story that feels rich in historical detail and I’ve taken it a bit at a time. I’ll need to absorb the first listen and then revisit to better understand the full context. The translation feels sympathetic and despite the challenges the title has presented, I’ve enjoyed it. It’s a remarkable achievement at so many levels and rewarding. A great title to take many out of the comfort zone of easy reading!