In the Beginning * Chaim Potok

Growing up in a devout immigrant household in the Bronx during the Great Depression, a sickly, sensitive boy strives to overcome neighborhood bullies, frail health, and the shadow of war as he discovers a calling in modern biblical scholarship that challenges his father's cherished traditions.

The Story. Written by acclaimed American novelist and rabbi Chaim Potok, this story offers a deeply moving portrait of faith, family loyalty, and intellectual awakening. Set against the backdrop of the 1930s and World War II, the story follows David Lurie, the son of Polish Jewish immigrants Max and Ruth Lurie. While his courageous father works tirelessly to preserve traditional Orthodox ways and support relatives overseas, young David turns to books for comfort and strength. As he grows older and witnesses the devastating impact of the Holocaust from afar, David is drawn to historical-critical Bible studies at the University of Chicago - a path that creates a painful, heartfelt rift between his devotion to his heritage and his search for deeper understanding.

Perfect For. Book clubs, historical fiction readers, and fans of thoughtful, character-driven stories about family and faith alongside Chaim Potok's The Chosen, The Promise, and My Name Is Asher Lev, Bernard Malamud's The Assistant, or Henry Roth's Call It Sleep.

First published 1975; this edition 1992 by Fawcett.

Fiction / Classics / 20th-Century American Literature / Jewish Fiction & Culture / Historical & Coming-of-Age Novels / Great Depression & WWII Fiction / Faith & Scholarship Narratives