The Scroll of Obadiah

The Scroll of Obadiah narrates the life of a Norman priest who converted to Judaism. Born in Italy in the 1070s, he travelled to the Middle East during the First Crusade. His life is uniquely documented in his autobiography, which was uncovered in partly indecipherable fragments in the Cairo Geniza, an ancient archive. Scholars have restored the dramatic story, which relates his many experiences in Baghdad and Aleppo, including an account of the Battle of the Field of Blood between the Turks and the Christians in 1119.

"...Frank Reiss builds a story that is less about big dramatic moments and more about the quiet pull of history and faith. The book centres around an old scroll, essentially the autobiography, which has been lovingly restored from indecipherable fragments into a compelling story of life during the period, in Southern Europe and the Middle East....I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it awakened all sorts of thoughts relating to faith and religion...Overall, I found The Scroll of Obadiah to be thoughtful without being heavy, and simple in a way that feels intentional. It is the kind of book one finishes and then keep turning over in one’s mind for a bit-and not because it shocked." carryingsonupthedale blog