I am the agent for Vivian Jeanette Kaplan. Her second book, BLIND VISION, has just become available from Hannover House this month, initially as an eBook from Amazon on Kindle. Her award winning and very successful first book, TEN GREEN BOTTLES, was published by St. Martin's Press in the U.S. and in several languages by publishers worldwide.
Amazon link at: http://www.amazon.com/Blind-Vision-ebook/dp/B...ind+vision
BLIND VISION is the explosive, riveting, and meticulously researched literary historical novel about one of the most horrific times in the late 15th century when thousands of New Christians in Spain, forced to convert from Judaism to Christianity, were accused of still being Jews, tortured, and then burned at the stake. All of this was led by the Vatican appointed Grand Inquisitor, Tomas de Torquemada, and King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, who is currently on the path to sainthood.
It is also the story of the great explorer, Christopher Columbus, whose voyage to the New World was only made possible by the money raised by the Jews and Crypto-Jews of the time. He took as many of them with him as he could when he left Spain on the exact day in 1492, when the Monarchs expelled all Jews under penalty of death. From personal interviews in South America, the US, and Spain, plus correspondence with international academics and the use of many archival sources, Vivian has discovered a wealth of information. Included is the shocking conclusion of Christopher Columbus' true identity, based on the determination of his natural mother and the author's detailed deciphering of his enigmatic signature, done in her book for all to see, that has baffled the world until now.
And importantly, it is about the present day estimated millions of Anousim (pronounced "ah-noo-seem" - Hebrew for "forced ones"), living as Christians but who are descendants of Jews, with many thousands secretly practicing Judaism. They have found their roots and want to come out, but are afraid to because of their family, their friends, and even organized Jewry. Now, as in the time of the Inquisition, they are still referred to as Marranos (meaning "swine" or "pigs" in Spanish). BLIND VISION tackles this issue head-on with the characters of Alfonso, who lived in Spain during the late 1400s and Stefan, who lives today. The author artfully draws the reader into both lives, centuries apart, then, in the end, takes the separate stories and remarkably intertwines them.
This is a seminal book that no doubt will change the world's attitude towards these people allowing them to announce they are Jews and not be ashamed of who they are or what they believe in and to provide the path for them to be fully embraced by the world at large.
Some Information About TEN GREEN BOTTLES
TEN GREEN BOTTLES is the creative nonfiction story of the author's family who fled the Nazis in Vienna in 1939, arriving in Shanghai where Vivian was born. They lived under deplorable conditions during the Japanese occupation and fled again in 1949 to Canada when the Communists took over.
It was the winner of the Canadian and Italian Jewish Book Awards in 2003 and 2007. It is published by St. Martin's Press in the United States and publishers in Canada, Hungary, Germany, Italy, and will be published in China in early 2014, plus three audio and a Braille version for the blind and physically handicapped were created. The book was made into a play in May, 2009 with over 4,000 people attending 14 sold out performances in Toronto. As well, the Producer of the very successful docudrama, "Iris Chang: The Rape of Nanking", has signed an agreement with Vivian to create a docudrama based on TEN GREEN BOTTLES.
Every formal critical review worldwide, and there have been over 25, has been outstanding. Some of the North American reviews include the following comments:
"Ten Green Bottles is an instant classic. It is a great, great book." - Flint Journal
"Spellbinding...evocative...remarkable achievement." - Publishers Weekly
"Riveting...moving and memorable" - Kirkus Reviews
"Beautifully composed and engrossing memoir." - Library Journal
"Remarkably vivid and richly detailed" - Booklist
"Beautifully told story. Glistened with the spirit of life." - San Diego Jewish Times
"Kaplan's prose is simply stunning." - Canadian Jewish News
"Kaplan's present tense narrative is so immediate the pages keep turning as if this were a fictional thriller" - Copley News Service
"Emotional power and vivid immediacy." - Maclean's
"Powerful harrowing story grips the reader." - Ottawa Citizen
Amazon link at: http://www.amazon.com/Blind-Vision-ebook/dp/B...ind+vision
BLIND VISION is the explosive, riveting, and meticulously researched literary historical novel about one of the most horrific times in the late 15th century when thousands of New Christians in Spain, forced to convert from Judaism to Christianity, were accused of still being Jews, tortured, and then burned at the stake. All of this was led by the Vatican appointed Grand Inquisitor, Tomas de Torquemada, and King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, who is currently on the path to sainthood.
It is also the story of the great explorer, Christopher Columbus, whose voyage to the New World was only made possible by the money raised by the Jews and Crypto-Jews of the time. He took as many of them with him as he could when he left Spain on the exact day in 1492, when the Monarchs expelled all Jews under penalty of death. From personal interviews in South America, the US, and Spain, plus correspondence with international academics and the use of many archival sources, Vivian has discovered a wealth of information. Included is the shocking conclusion of Christopher Columbus' true identity, based on the determination of his natural mother and the author's detailed deciphering of his enigmatic signature, done in her book for all to see, that has baffled the world until now.
And importantly, it is about the present day estimated millions of Anousim (pronounced "ah-noo-seem" - Hebrew for "forced ones"), living as Christians but who are descendants of Jews, with many thousands secretly practicing Judaism. They have found their roots and want to come out, but are afraid to because of their family, their friends, and even organized Jewry. Now, as in the time of the Inquisition, they are still referred to as Marranos (meaning "swine" or "pigs" in Spanish). BLIND VISION tackles this issue head-on with the characters of Alfonso, who lived in Spain during the late 1400s and Stefan, who lives today. The author artfully draws the reader into both lives, centuries apart, then, in the end, takes the separate stories and remarkably intertwines them.
This is a seminal book that no doubt will change the world's attitude towards these people allowing them to announce they are Jews and not be ashamed of who they are or what they believe in and to provide the path for them to be fully embraced by the world at large.
Some Information About TEN GREEN BOTTLES
TEN GREEN BOTTLES is the creative nonfiction story of the author's family who fled the Nazis in Vienna in 1939, arriving in Shanghai where Vivian was born. They lived under deplorable conditions during the Japanese occupation and fled again in 1949 to Canada when the Communists took over.
It was the winner of the Canadian and Italian Jewish Book Awards in 2003 and 2007. It is published by St. Martin's Press in the United States and publishers in Canada, Hungary, Germany, Italy, and will be published in China in early 2014, plus three audio and a Braille version for the blind and physically handicapped were created. The book was made into a play in May, 2009 with over 4,000 people attending 14 sold out performances in Toronto. As well, the Producer of the very successful docudrama, "Iris Chang: The Rape of Nanking", has signed an agreement with Vivian to create a docudrama based on TEN GREEN BOTTLES.
Every formal critical review worldwide, and there have been over 25, has been outstanding. Some of the North American reviews include the following comments:
"Ten Green Bottles is an instant classic. It is a great, great book." - Flint Journal
"Spellbinding...evocative...remarkable achievement." - Publishers Weekly
"Riveting...moving and memorable" - Kirkus Reviews
"Beautifully composed and engrossing memoir." - Library Journal
"Remarkably vivid and richly detailed" - Booklist
"Beautifully told story. Glistened with the spirit of life." - San Diego Jewish Times
"Kaplan's prose is simply stunning." - Canadian Jewish News
"Kaplan's present tense narrative is so immediate the pages keep turning as if this were a fictional thriller" - Copley News Service
"Emotional power and vivid immediacy." - Maclean's
"Powerful harrowing story grips the reader." - Ottawa Citizen
