The Hope

In The Hope, Herman Wouk tells the history of Israel - from the creation of the state in 1948 through 1967’s Six Day War. All of the major events in Israel’s history are covered, from the British internment camps and the Jews who had to sneak into the country, to the spirit of the Jews who finally had their own country to fight for and the battle for Jerusalem. Though this is a work of historical-fiction, it is real in spirit. Wouk captures the character of the Israelis.

Zev Barak, a Viennese-born military man, and Yossi Blumenthal, a soon-to-be legendary soldier, and others are representative of the many young men and women who fought and won independence for Israel. Golda Meir, Moshe Dayan, and David Ben-Gurion, among other real people, are woven into the story of the fictional characters.

For anyone who is interested in Israel or Middle East politics, this is a good, easy to read overview of the history of Israel. It is fiction, but based in fact. All of the battles and many of the people in the story are real. Wouk weaves fact and fiction seamlessly.

The Hope is one of the best books I have read.

Wouk, Herman. (1993). The Hope. Boston: Back Bay Books.