Exodus * Leon Uris

Set in the aftermath of World War II, this sweeping historical epic follows an American nurse and a dedicated Jewish underground leader caught up in the dramatic events surrounding the founding of the modern State of Israel.

The Story. Written by celebrated American novelist Leon Uris and originally published in 1958, this brings one of the twentieth century's most widely read historical novels to everyday readers. The story begins on the island of Cyprus in 1946, where thousands of Holocaust survivors are detained in British camps while hoping to reach Palestine. Kitty Fremont, a widowed American nurse volunteering at the camp, crosses paths with Ari Ben Canaan, a charismatic freedom fighter organizing a daring ship voyage aboard the Exodus to bring refugee children to their ancestral homeland. Weaving together personal romance, family history across generations in Europe, and the struggles of early pioneers, the novel paints a vivid portrait of courage and perseverance during a turning point in modern history.

Perfect For. Historical fiction fans, book clubs, and readers who enjoy sweeping, multi-generational epics alongside Leon Uris's Trinity, QB VII, and Mila 18, James A. Michener's The Source, or Herman Wouk's The Winds of War.

First published 1958; this edition 1978 by Bantam.

Fiction / Historical Fiction / 20th-Century Historical Sagas / Middle East & Israeli History / World War II & Postwar Fiction / Epic Adventure & Romance / Classic Bestsellers