The Heretic

Brian Selfon

a remarkable talent for creating cinematic action on paper
In his debut novel, The Heretic, Lewis Weinstein posits the question -- &#34Why do we always get screwed?"&#151and dares to attempt an answer. Set in 15th century Spain at the dawn of the Inquisition, The Heretic is a tragic but hopeful novel. Gabriel Catalan is a secretly Judaizing converso. Friar Ricardo Perez, a disciple of the notorious Tomas de Torquemada and one of the more revolting villains in recent fiction, knows but can't prove it. Gabriel suspects the friar's knowledge but isn't sure. Layers of doubt, charade, and unspoken hatred elevate these scenes to a literary level with flashes of literary brilliance. The Heretic has plenty of exciting action passages, the most thrilling of which is a knife fight in the ruins of a Roman gladiator arena. The Heretic also has plenty of romance: by my count, there are more than 10 scenes that culminate in lovemaking. Weinstein's descriptions of Jewish rituals and holidays are vivid and touching. What most impressed me about The Heretic, however, was its willingness to ask the tough questions my Hebrew schoolteachers avoided.—Detroit Jewish News

Bunny Alexandroni

an exciting, interesting and very readable epic
A good historical novel brings to life the period described. A really good historical novel should set us running for the encyclopedia to try to work out where fiction ends and history carries on. Lewis Weinstein accomplishes this in The Heretic, a book set during the Spanish Inquisition - just before the expulsion of the Jews. History and fictional characters are so closely woven together that we almost believe the heroes will, somehow, be able to change the course of history. The Heretic follows the fortunes of the Catalan family, conversos or former Jews, whose forefathers converted to Christianity. As we follow the Catalan family's failures and successes, the question keeps returning - how far does one go to protect one's convictions? Who was right: those who died for their religion or those who complied and converted with the hope that eventually, times would change and the storm would blow over? Lewis Weinstein has brought to life the fanaticism of the period, highlighting the dangers of intolerance.—Jerusalem Post

David Strom

a mesmerizing novel
The Heretic tells us about the calamitous days leading to the Spanish Inquisition, and about the many forces struggling with each other in the Iberian peninsula during the 15th century. The novel, once picked up, was hard to put down. It is a well-told story of profound love. It is about all those things that make us humane and caring human beings. Lewis Weinstein has written a stimulating and wonderful historical novel.—San Diego Jewish Times