The Weight of Ink

“The Weight of Ink is the best kind of quest novel—full of suspense, surprises and characters we care passionately about.  How thrilling it is to watch the imperious Helen and the scholarly Aaron turn into brilliant literary detectives as they uncover the identity of a woman who lived more than 300 years ago, and how thrilling it is to get to know that woman intimately in her own time.  A beautiful, intelligent and utterly absorbing novel.” —Margot Livesey, author of Mercury   "Rachel Kadish draws us deep inside the vivid, rarely-seen world of 17th century Jewish London, conjuring the life and legacy of an extraordinary woman with an insatiable hunger for knowledge and education. A vital testament to the importance of books and ideas, The Weight of Ink unfolds like a revelation.” — Kate Manning, author of My Notorious Life   "The Weight of Ink tells of the struggle and the triumph of a woman trying to do justice to the largeness of her intellect and ambition. As audacious in its conception as it is brilliant in its execution." —Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away  

"A gifted writer, astonishingly adept at nuance, narration, and the politics of passion." —Toni Morrison "A mysterious collection of papers hidden in a historic London home sends two scholars of Jewish history on an unforgettable quest....Kadish's characters are memorable, and we're treated to a host of them: pious rabbis and ribald actors, socialites and troubled young men, Mossad agents and rule-worshipping archivists. From Shakespeare's Dark Lady to Spinoza's philosophical heresies, Kadish leaves no stone unturned in this moving historical epic. Chock-full of rich detail and literary intrigue." —Kirkus Reviews  “The Weight of Ink is the best kind of quest novel—full of suspense, surprises and characters we care passionately about.  How thrilling it is to watch the imperious Helen and the scholarly Aaron turn into brilliant literary detectives as they uncover the identity of a woman who lived more than 300 years ago, and how thrilling it is to get to know that woman intimately in her own time.  A beautiful, intelligent and utterly absorbing novel.” —Margot Livesey, author of Mercury   "Rachel Kadish draws us deep inside the vivid, rarely-seen world of 17th century Jewish London, conjuring the life and legacy of an extraordinary woman with an insatiable hunger for knowledge and education. A vital testament to the importance of books and ideas, The Weight of Ink unfolds like a revelation.” —Kate Manning, author of My Notorious Life   “From its opening pages The Weight of Ink signals its reverence for words, both those from which the narrative is constructed and those which lie at the heart of its story—for this a novel about the importance of words: written and spoken, historical and contemporary, hidden away and brought to light. Rachel Kadish has fashioned a literary mystery spanning centuries, continents and languages; a mystery of great moral stakes and elemental human desires.” —Leah Hager Cohen, author of No Book but the World "The Weight of Ink tells of the struggle and the triumph of a woman trying to do justice to the largeness of her intellect and ambition. As audacious in its conception as it is brilliant in its execution." —Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away “Rarely have I read a contemporary novel that so immersed me in its world and drew me so deeply into the lives of its characters. Rachel Kadish is a brilliant story-teller, with a mystery writer's instinct for pacing and a willingness to take on the largest human questions. The Weight of Ink is astonishing.” —Carol Gilligan, author of In a Different Voice

"A gifted writer, astonishingly adept at nuance, narration, and the politics of passion." —Toni Morrison “The Weight of Ink is the best kind of quest novel—full of suspense, surprises and characters we care passionately about.  How thrilling it is to watch the imperious Helen and the scholarly Aaron turn into brilliant literary detectives as they uncover the identity of a woman who lived more than 300 years ago, and how thrilling it is to get to know that woman intimately in her own time.  A beautiful, intelligent and utterly absorbing novel.” —Margot Livesey, author of Mercury   "Rachel Kadish draws us deep inside the vivid, rarely-seen world of 17th century Jewish London, conjuring the life and legacy of an extraordinary woman with an insatiable hunger for knowledge and education. A vital testament to the importance of books and ideas, The Weight of Ink unfolds like a revelation.” —Kate Manning, author of My Notorious Life   “From its opening pages The Weight of Ink signals its reverence for words, both those from which the narrative is constructed and those which lie at the heart of its story—for this a novel about the importance of words: written and spoken, historical and contemporary, hidden away and brought to light. Rachel Kadish has fashioned a literary mystery spanning centuries, continents and languages; a mystery of great moral stakes and elemental human desires.” —Leah Hager Cohen, author of No Book but the World "The Weight of Ink tells of the struggle and the triumph of a woman trying to do justice to the largeness of her intellect and ambition. As audacious in its conception as it is brilliant in its execution." —Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away “Rarely have I read a contemporary novel that so immersed me in its world and drew me so deeply into the lives of its characters. Rachel Kadish is a brilliant story-teller, with a mystery writer's instinct for pacing and a willingness to take on the largest human questions. The Weight of Ink is astonishing.” —Carol Gilligan, author of In a Different Voice  

"A gifted writer, astonishingly adept at nuance, narration, and the politics of passion." —Toni Morrison “The Weight of Ink is the best kind of quest novel—full of suspense, surprises and characters we care passionately about.  How thrilling it is to watch the imperious Helen and the scholarly Aaron turn into brilliant literary detectives as they uncover the identity of a woman who lived more than 300 years ago, and how thrilling it is to get to know that woman intimately in her own time.  A beautiful, intelligent and utterly absorbing novel.” —Margot Livesey, author of Mercury   "Rachel Kadish draws us deep inside the vivid, rarely-seen world of 17th century Jewish London, conjuring the life and legacy of an extraordinary woman with an insatiable hunger for knowledge and education. A vital testament to the importance of books and ideas, The Weight of Ink unfolds like a revelation.” — Kate Manning, author of My Notorious Life   "The Weight of Ink tells of the struggle and the triumph of a woman trying to do justice to the largeness of her intellect and ambition. As audacious in its conception as it is brilliant in its execution." —Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away

Praise for Tolstoy Lied:   "Cuts to the very core of what a love story should be: not about how we find happiness, but about what it means to do so."—San Francisco Chronicle   “Kadish writes about relationships with as much passion as she does literary theory, and her intelligent narrator—intensely aware of romantic clichés—gives this novel insightful traction that 21st-century feminists will appreciate.”—Publishers Weekly   "Utterly absorbing....This is a novel bursting with the immediacy of experience and the profundity of reflection."—Rebecca Goldstein, author of The Mind-Body Problem, Mazel, and Properties of Light "Tolstoy Lied is a brilliant novel, one of the wisest books I've read about love."—Carol Gilligan, author of In A Different Voice and The Birth of Pleasure "Tolstoy Lied is a love story with heft, weight, and dazzle. Rachel Kadish has written an infectiously enjoyable novel."—Tova Mirvis, author of Visible City, The Ladies Auxiliary, and The Outside World   Praise for From a Sealed Room:   "A gifted writer, astonishingly adept at nuance, narration, and the politics of passion."—Toni Morrison "Brilliantly braids history, religion, family, and eros. I was moved . . . and very impressed.”—Russell Banks "I am taken by the poignancy of its voice— by its evocative imagery, too. I hope it reaches many homes and many hearts."—Elie Wiesel, author of Night "An intense, ambitious story that explores the chasms between truth and falsehood, past and present."— New York Times Book Review "A tale of war and peace that moves us from Jerusalem to New York and back again . . . filled with vigorous and distinct voices and a generous, alert narrative intelligence."—San Francisco Chronicle "What makes this book so rich and historically resonant is the skill and boldness with which Kadish weaves the intersecting stories of three women representing three generations."—Chicago Tribune "A poignant and surprisingly powerful tale."—Boston Globe   "From a Sealed Room is hauntingly beautiful -- a profound exploration of suffering, endurance, and the effort to heal. Here is an extraordinary new writer."—Brian Morton, author of Florence Gordon and others "Every first novel should be like this one: deeply imagined, deeply felt, and -- as a result -- deeply involving."—Gish Jen, author of Tiger Writing, Typical American, and others  

Praise for Tolstoy Lied:   "Cuts to the very core of what a love story should be: not about how we find happiness, but about what it means to do so."—San Francisco Chronicle   “Kadish writes about relationships with as much passion as she does literary theory, and her intelligent narrator—intensely aware of romantic clichés—gives this novel insightful traction that 21st-century feminists will appreciate.”—Publishers Weekly   Praise for From a Sealed Room:   "A gifted writer, astonishingly adept at nuance, narration, and the politics of passion."—Toni Morrison "I am taken by the poignancy of its voice— by its evocative imagery, too. I hope it reaches many homes and many hearts."—Elie Wiesel, author of Night "An intense, ambitious story that explores the chasms between truth and falsehood, past and present."— New York Times Book Review "A tale of war and peace that moves us from Jerusalem to New York and back again . . . filled with vigorous and distinct voices and a generous, alert narrative intelligence."—San Francisco Chronicle "What makes this book so rich and historically resonant is the skill and boldness with which Kadish weaves the intersecting stories of three women representing three generations."—Chicago Tribune "A poignant and surprisingly powerful tale."—Boston Globe