Her experiences make her wise she realizes that some people, such as Marie de La Grange, were Jews who hid the truth to succeed in life. Throughout, Esther must not only masquerade as a boy, binding her breasts, and using whatever materials she can gather to soak up the blood from her menstrual cycle, but she must also mimic Catholic prayers and rituals and endure the stupid songs, epithets and myths about Jews that were part of society. She has chosen to include all of Esther's known occupations in the story. McKay imagines the possibility that, as a girl, Esther was groomed to become a courtesan for the French court. It is the detail of Esther's struggle to survive that makes compelling reading. Many Jews converted to Roman Catholicism either by force or to escape relentless persecution that resulted in expulsions or death at the hands of the Inquisition. Laws restricted their movements, and they could be the object of physical attack at any moment. Onerous taxes were imposed on them simply because of their religion. The small ghettoes within which Jews were confined were overcrowded and created horrible living conditions. The novel provides valuable general information about life in 18th century Europe and, in particular, about the lives of Jews and women. She resisted these entreaties and was finally sent back to France, with different accounts recording her stay in New France from one to as many as five years. When her true identity was revealed, all efforts were unleashed to convert her to Roman Catholicism, as a law existed proscribing the presence of Jews and Hugenots in the colony. She arrived in New France in 1738 under the name of Jacques La Fargue. Esprit who masqueraded as a boy and held many different jobs, from footman to ship's cook, as she moved around the country. What is known is that Esther Brandeau was a Jewess from St. Sharon McKay has fictionalized the life of the first known Jew to live in New France. Chance intervenes in the form of a shipwreck and sets her on a path of sometimes dangerous adventure that ends in the colony of New France. She is powerless to change her situation as a female and as a Jew in France, her life is doubly restricted.
The prospect of a life full of non-stop children and housework strikes fear in the heart of young Esther Brandeau in the 1730's. Oh, she had not meant to hold him so tightly. Could walls move? Certainly at that moment they were closing in on her, closer, closer, so she could hardly breathe! Baby Samuel wailed in her arms. She turned, and the room seemed to turn with her. But she was just fourteen! It was true that many girls were betrothed by twelve years of age, and some did marry at fourteen or fifteen, but Papa had always said that such an age was too young to marry.Įsther's head was spinning. So, Papa must be going to the matchmaker about her.
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