Kiddush Ha-Shem: An Epic of 1648 Book

The writing style of Asch is very engaging and keeps one's attention to each and every page. I took a Yiddish literature course in college and I feel like this would have been a fascinating addition to the syllabus. The character of Deborah in particular fascinates me the most as she initially comes off passive but demonstrates her ability to survive as long as she can in her dire circumstances. The ending with Shlomele alone left to pick up the pieces of his lost community is just as haunting and resonant. I feel that this book is rich with material for cultural analysis, especially through the lens of gender with regard to Deborah.