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György Spiró : Fogság (Captivity)

The first surprise is that anyone would choose to publish a translation of an 865 page novel by a Hungarian novelist virtually entirely unknown in the the English-speaking world. He has had three books published in French : one on this website as well as two plays in two anthologies (Balkan Plots: New Plays from Central and Eastern Europe; Plays from Contemporary Hungary:) and two stories in two anthologies (Best European Fiction 2018; Stories from the heart of Europe) . To add to the surprise, this book is not set in contemporary Hungary but in Rome and the Middle East at the beginning of the first millennium A.D.

Our hero is Uri, shortened from Uriel, a Jewish boy aged nineteen at the beginning of the novel. Like many Jews of the era, his family live on the far bank of the Tiber. His father trades in silk and muslin. Many if the Jews seem to be descended from those made prisoner by the Romans. The first part gives a fascinating account of the social and political status of the Jews at that time as well as what is going on in Rome, with various plots and the like.

Unlike most other boys Uri does not get involved in his father’s business or, indeed, any other similar activity, not least because he has various physical ailments, particularly very poor sight but His leg was bad too. Ever since he was small, walking hurt his feet and ankles. His back usually hurt also. His right hip had turned out bigger than the left. Accordingly he spends much of his time reading, in Latin and Greek. (There is also an interesting discussion on what slanguages are used by whom and why. However he does occasionally venture into Rome not least because he is allowed some free food because of his grandfather’s citizenship, which helps his family.

However we know what is going to happen to him because he and we were told in the first sentence of the book. He is to accompany a religious delegation to Jerusalem. He is not sure why he has been selected but he has no choice as it is great honour. Of course, partially because of his health he does not want to go. However, it is his duty to go so go he does.

But why has he been selected? He does not know for sure that he has an idea that it is because Agrippa obliged his father to lend him some money and this was a quid pro quo. The others are also surprised at his presence not least because of his health and because he is the youngest. Some of them seem to know something about the the loan. There is one experienced guide in charge call Matthew and he makes sure they all follow his instructions.

We follow them on their journey and inevitably there are issues such as local customs officials charging heavy duties for them to enter the country and of course issues between the six men, though our hero tries to keep it a low-key in all these discussions. We are soon able to date events as we hear about protests against Pilate’s order to plant eagle standards on the Temple Mount of Jerusalem which happened in 26 A.D.

The journey brings varying difficulties. Not surprisingly they don’t all agree with one another and Uri’s journey is made more difficult as they are somewhat suspicious of him particularly the background of the loan his father made to Agrippa and wonder if he is a spy for Agrippa .

They also have different views on varying subjects including what is appropriate behaviour. We see interesting variations of behaviour and their reaction to it for example they go to what is clearly a brothel and some of them are horrified by this but it is justified by the fact that the women temporary marry their customers and then divorce him when they are finished their business and apparently that is technically legal under Jewish law. However, not surprised when the two of them are not happy with that. We have other examples disagreement on what is and is not right.

Some of them also clearly have ulterior motives. One of them for example wants to build a large harbour at Ostria and has come here to find out about techniques of concrete and raise money for the project which is made clear to him that he has no hope of succeeding as he will be beaten by those richer and better connected than him. Nevertheless, he is determined.
Despite varying problems on the journey such as getting a ship to get them to Caesarea, they do make progress and get caught up in the crowds which includes Pontius Pilate on a palanquin.

If you were wondering why this book is called Captivity we are about to find out. As they enter the outer area of Jerusalem, there is a security check. Matthew has a word with one of the guards. Uri is hit on the head and when he wakes up, he is in prison. Perhaps symbolically, his two fellow prisoners are thieves. Eventually he is sort of released, though it is never clear to us or him exactly why he was arrested.

He is now taken under guard to Edom where he is kept on a farm and has to work for his supper. When he tries to escape he is recaptured. Eventually, again without explanation, he is taken back to Jerusalem where he is kept in more luxurious captivity. But again he is back at work, this time on place for Helena of Adiabene before he is taken on an expedition, whose motive is concealed till we and he learn that they are looking for the the Ark of the Covenant. Not surprisingly that does not go quite to plan and he is next off to Alexandria where he meets Philo of Alexandria and learns about Egypt, Alexandria and the Greek and Jewish communities in Alexandria. On a personal level he is one of three Jews admitted to the Gymnasium, he loses his virginity and meets some of he great and good

Things get unpleasant with the Alexandrian riots which see vicious attacks on Jews but he manages to survive. It seems time to return home. It was not Alexandria he had to conquer, but Rome.

He had not been home for over four years and a few surprises await him. His father and younger sister have both died. His father had been struggling to repay the money he had borrowed to make the loan to Agrippa. It is made very clear to Uri that Agrippa will not pay back the loan andthat he is responsible for the loan and if he does not pay it back he will be hounded to the ends of the Earth. He has a little money but nowhere near enough.He tries his hand at business but is not wildly successful. When a delegation arrives from Alexandria, with Philo involved, he is taken on as an interpreter and repayment of the loan suspended. At this point messy Roman politics of which we saw a bit in Alexandria come to the fore.

Caligula has taken over as Emperor from Tiberius with Claudius waiting in the wings. It has been suggested that Caligula was insane – he appointed his horse as consul. He is certainly erratic. Uri gets somewhat caught up in these issues. Caligula even has himself declared a god and complains that only the Jews do not recognise him as such. Caligula is cruel and Spiró does not spare us the details. Uri is present when Caligula is assassinated.

Claudius takes over. While he is somewhat erratic, he is not mad like his predecessor or successor. However, like them he is assassinated, probably by his wife. He is succeeded by Domitius, his wife’s son and his adopted son. We know him better as Nero. However during Claudius ‘ reign, Uri is accused of being a Nazarene, i.e Christian, which he is not, and he is expelled from Rome, with his family, Friends are forbidden to help him and he and his family have to leave Rome and struggle to survive. However after five years they can return when Nero grants an amnesty.

Two key things happen during his reign. One is the rise of the Nazarenes (who, of course in that era were mainly Jews). The other was Great Fire of Rome. It has been suggested that Nero started it though there is no proof of this and he was not in Rome st the time. However we do know that he blamed the Christians and many were slaughtered. We soon move onto First Jewish–Roman War. Things calm down again as Uri tries to build a library of key Jewish documents . Always he is on the fringes or power, advising, consulting and discussing.

This is a monumental book – 865 pages long – covering a key era in both Western European and Jewish history. Spiró must have carnied our considerable research. Speaking as someone brought up in the Western Christian tradition, while obviously some of this story was known, a lot was not. What was interesting is that the key event for Western Christians and those brought up in that tradition – the trial and crucifixion of Jesus – is only mentioned in passing and then only well after the event, in relation to the increase in the number of Christians in Rome. As well as the history, the story of Uri , who has all too many ups and downs, is very well told. With any hero, we sometimes criticise his behaviour and at other times sympathise with him but always follow his story with interest.

Publishing history

First published in 2005 by Magvető
First published in English in 2016 by Restless Books
Translated by Tim Wilkinson