FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS

Simon Vance delivers a strong performance of an often overlooked classic that offers a look at a very specific time and place in history—Europe between the wars. Originally published in 1934, the novel follows a young Romanian Jew as he comes of age under the growing shadow of fascism in Europe, encountering difficulties with nationalism, identity, and prejudice. Vance’s narration imbues the unnamed narrator with curiosity about life, and the story’s autobiographical tone is helped along by the realism Vance brings to it. The protagonist is complicated, and his perspectives and experiences may cause listeners some discomfort as he makes his way through a turbulent time. A.G.M. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2019]