A Return to Goshen
A Return to Goshen by Norma Ullian Greenstein is a historical fiction novel published by iUniverse in October 2001. This 184-page book presents the life of the Hart family, a Jewish household in Charleston during the Civil War. The narrative follows Miriam, a wealthy woman from Philadelphia, as she navigates her new life in the South and confronts the realities of slavery, which deeply conflict with her values.
Readers will find a rich exploration of historical events, including the firing on Fort Sumter and the bombardment of Charleston, woven into the personal struggles of the characters. The story highlights Miriam’s moral dilemmas and her husband’s experiences as a field surgeon during the war, culminating in a poignant reflection on the complexities of identity and heritage. The book also incorporates historical figures, enhancing its connection to the era.
Official synopsis Publisher
The Novel, A Return to Goshen, recounts events in the life of a Jewish family, the Harts, in Charleston during the Civil War. Miriam, a wealthy Jewess from Philidelphia, marries Jacob, a Jew from Charleston. Upon moving to her husband’s home, she is confronted with the “peculiar institution” of slavery. Although she tries to conform to Southern society she cannot shed her instinctive abhorrence of slavery. After Miriam interfers in the beating of a small slave boy, Jacob defends his wife’s honor in a duel. He enters the Civil War as a field surgeon and is wounded at Gettysburg and found on the battlefield by his cousin, Daniel, an officer in the Union Army.
The story revolves around the historical events in Charleston ; the firing on Fort Sumter in 1861, the deprivation of Charleston’s populace during the war, the bombardment of Charleston in 1863, and the evacuation in 1865. Historical figures are woven into the plot, either by anecdotal reference or by appearance.
The title refers to the slavery of Jews in Goshen and the irony of Jewish slave-owners celebrating their ancestors release from Egyptian slavery every Passover.
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