The tale traces the history of one coveted tome, a Jewish prayer book traditionally used during the Passover seder, through time as it travels through war-torn Europe of many eras and influences the lives of the people who create or encounter it.

In April 1996, rare-book conservator Hanna Heath flies into Sarajevo to inspect and repair the Sarajevo Haggadah, which has just turned up after being lost during the war. ”The Sarajevo Haggadah, created in medieval Spain,” Brooks writes, “was a famous rarity, a lavishly illuminated Hebrew manuscript made at a time when Jewish belief was firmly against illustrations of any kind.”

The author notes that the novel is based on the true story of this Haggadah, though she has fictionalized her account, imagining the book’s history.

More info on the book at author’s home page