The Turquoise Ring

Book Description

A radical retelling of Shakespeare's most controversial play-from the author of My Father Had a Daughter.

Acclaimed novelist Grace Tiffany revisits Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice and offers a radical new portrait of one of the most controversial characters in literature-Shylock.

In 1568, twenty-one-year-old Shiloh ben Gozán flees the Spanish Inquisition to live openly as a Jew in Venice. He brings with him a baby daughter and an oddly made turquoise ring, given to him by a woman he cannot forget.

In Venice, as this ring is hidden, stolen, traded, lost, and finally found again, it shapes not just Shiloh's life but also that of his great enemy and business rival, whom he finally-and horrifyingly-confronts in a Venetian courtroom. The ring also becomes entangled in the fortunes of five women: Leah, Shiloh's first love; Jessica, his rebellious daughter; Nerissa, a maidservant; Portia, an outrageously rich and alarmingly intelligent heiress; and lastly Xanthe, a Spanish refugee who alone can unlock the secret of his past.

Customer Reviews:

A Unique Account of the Women of The Merchant of Venice.......2006-06-06

(This review was first published in The Historical Novels Review, Issue 33, August 2005 ISSN: 1471-7492)

"The Merchant Of Venice" is arguably Shakespeare's most controversial and lyrical work. The 16th century tale of vengeance and religious intolerance in Venice among rival merchants was recently made into a film, and now comes to us reinvented as a novel titled The Turquoise Ring by Shakespearean scholar and author, Grace Tiffany ("My Father had a Daughter" and "Will.")

Told from the viewpoint of five women - three of whom are featured in the original play - this entertaining, and at times transcendent, novel employs the symbol of a turquoise ring made in Toledo to weave together the stories of the brave and doomed Rachel, her foolish daughter Jessica, the clever courtesan Nerrisa, the eccentric heiress Portia, and her clairvoyant Moorish servant, Xanthe. The middle three women will be familiar to Shakespeare aficionados, though such knowledge is not necessary in order to enjoy Tiffany's feminist construction of the Renaissance woman's plight, as well as her ode to the revered master playwright's talent for finely honed characterization and rambunctious dialogue. Though the novel does offer up the now-infamous revenge of the Jewish money lender Shylock (here, recast as Shiloh, who flees the Spanish Inquisition and martyrdom of his beloved wife, only to find himself captive to Venetian hypocrisy and the betrayal of his own daughter) it does not overshadow the plot - a refreshing and intelligent choice, which allows Tiffany to frame her overall narrative instead with a haunting tale of lost love and discerning exile. While Jessica, Nerrisa, and Portia give us a diverse, sometimes amusing, but always sympathetic depiction of how women sought survival in an often callous age, it is Rachel's poetic start and Xanthe's sage ending that truly elevate this daring, if uneven, interpretation of a classic stage tragedy.

A Superb Reinterpretation of Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice." Unputdownable!!.......2005-07-20

Author Grace Tiffany is a Renaissance scholar who in recent years has written a few excellent historical novels involving William Shakespeare, his life and work. She is a professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance Drama at Western Michigan University and has taught Shakespeare at Fordham University, the University of New Orleans and the University of Notre Dame, where she obtained her doctorate. "The Turquoise Ring" is a retelling of Shakespeare's controversial play, "The Merchant of Venice, from the point of view of five women - most of them characters in the great Bard's original work. Given Dr. Tiffany's background and literary talents, I cannot think of a better person to tell this intriguing tale.

A young Spanish Jew from Toledo, Shiloh ben Gozan, flees Spain and the Inquisition in 1568, carrying his infant daughter, Jessica, with him. His beloved wife Leah was brutally tortured and murdered because she refused to renounce her Jewish faith before the Holy Brotherhood. The only possession Shiloh carries with him, besides some food and goat's milk for the baby, is a turquoise ring his wife had given him upon their betrothal. He travels to Venice to live openly as a Jew and to raise Jessica. However, conditions aren't much better for his people in this new home. They are forced to live in a small ghetto, and wear badges and other identifying symbols of their religion when they leave the restricted area. Although, Venice's economy and trade flourish with the influx of Jewish refugees from Spain, they are still forbidden to own land, and the only work available to them is through usury. In Venice Shiloh's precious turquoise ring is stolen and passes through many hands, effecting all who own it.

The narrative begins with Elizabeta Santa Leocadia de la Cerda's story. Her mother Serafina, (originally called Sarah), was a newly baptized Catholic, a Jewess who converted, (called a converso or marrano), and her father an established Christian hidalgo, a wealthy nobleman. Many marranos continued to practice the Jewish religion in secret, although they attended mass regularly and took Holy Communion. Serafina actually did renounce her Judaism and tried to become a true Christian, until she became disillusioned with both Catholicism and her marriage. She told Elizabeta, before she died, "The new faith is as hollow as the old. It brought me only wealth and bitterness....and a husband who wanted forgiveness every night. Forgiveness to keep on sinning." Unlike her mother, Elisabeta is not materialistic, nor does social class and position matter to her. She gives up her wealth, noble family name and a life of privilege, to return to her mother's family and marry Shiloh ben Gozan, the man she loves. She takes the Hebrew name Leah.

Jessica, daughter of Leah and Shiloh, (called Shylock in Venice), is unhappy with the restrictions of life in the ghetto. Unlike her mother, who died when she was born, she is a superficial, spoiled girl, not interested in learning Hebrew and practicing Jewish laws. She would like to leave the ghetto, wear lovely clothing, marry a Christian and convert. She sees the Virgin Mary as a mother figure and frequently steals away to the cathedral in the Piazza San Marco to pray.

Nerissa d'Orocuora, a sensual, earthy woman from Padua, works for the ben Gozan family for a brief period in the Venetian Ghetto, as a maidservant. She and Jessica form a fast friendship. When caught entertaining men in her quarters, Shiloh tosses her out of the house and she promptly finds more enjoyable work for better wages in the houses of the Malipiero as a high class prostitute, a legal profession in Venice. Nerissa is savvy and gets by on her wits. She quickly moves up in the world when she is taken in and kept by prominent and influential Cardinal Grimani. All is well, until Nerissa meets Lady Portia Bel Mente, an eccentric young woman with beautiful hair and a brilliant legal mind. She wears men's clothes so she can attend legal meetings and court sessions, learn and debate. The two become best friends and Nerssia moves to Portia's large estate in Belmont, where she will become her lifelong companion and confidant.

According to Portia Bel Mente's father's bizarre will, she must marry, no matter her inclinations, if she is to inherit her parent's money and land, which would then be turned over to her husband anyway. She is determined to think of a legal way out of this misogynistic dilemma, so she can remain in charge of her estate and her life, and not allow some wastrel to dissipate her wealth and make her miserable.

Thus, the other characters in Shakespeare's "Merchant" enter the narrative: Antonio di Argento, Bassanio di Piombo, Lorenzo di Scimmia and Graziano di Pesaro. However, they are perceived and described somewhat differently here than in the Bard's famous work - from the feminine perspective, which is not always as flattering, but perhaps more realistic! The men have all squandered their money and are looking to make more by marrying wealthy women, (except for Antonio who seems to prefer men). Antonio, a terrible businessman, has come up with some ridiculous schemes to make a profit in the past, and his friends always went along with him enthusiastically. They will probably continue to do so once they restore their lost capital through advantageous marriages. As in "The Merchant of Venice," the Jew hating di Argento makes a contract with Shylock to borrow 3,000 ducats to help Bassanio court Portia in the manner to which she is accustomed. However, Antonio recently spat in the man's face and has insulted him on other occasions, calling him a dog and worse. The shrewd Shylock, is a bitter man. He has prospered through hard work, yet lives in a world which hates him and his people. The two adversaries make a bizarre pact to guarantee the return of the loan. Shylock agrees to charge no interest. Antonio agrees to give Shylock a pound of his flesh if he does not repay the loan in three months.

Xanthe is a servant in Portia's home, and another refugee from Toledo. Her father was a Marrisco, a moor converted to Christianity, her mother a Jewess. Her father made the turquoise ring, a lifetime ago. Only Xanthe can unlock its mysteries now, as well as the secrets of the past.

I really enjoyed this beautifully written, well researched novel. It is addictive. The more I read the more hooked I became. Grace Tiffany artfully blends fact and fiction to tell a story of a century in transition, social injustice and religious intolerance, romance and wit. Just before reading this book, I saw Michael Radford's film adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice," with Al Pacino as Shylock. The play has become much more meaningful to me after reading "The Turquoise Ring."

Highly recommended!
JANA

(3.5) Fact and fiction in a silver setting.......2005-06-11

In 16th century Venice, the Jews escape the harsh dictums of the Spanish Inquisition, fleeing their homes in Toledo for the security of more distant lands, free from torture and immolation for their beliefs. While Spain is cluttered with the burnt remains of autos-da-fe, those who remain as conversos, or New Christians, live in constant fear. Shiloh ben Gozan, a moneylender, now resides in Venice with his daughter, Jessica. Her mother, Leah, was tortured and cast out, when her persecutors realized birth was imminent. Shiloh cannot save his wife, but carries a turquoise ring given to him by Leah upon their marriage. Yet even in the more liberal Venice, Jews are marked as such by the garments they must wear in public, a yellow turban and a red badge.

Shiloh's servant in Venice, Nerissa, gets by on her wits, looking to better her station. When Shiloh fires Nerissa for inappropriate behavior with male callers, she acts as a go-between for Jessica and Lorenzo di Scimmia, son of a wealthy Christian. Jessica eventually elopes with Lorenzo, stealing her father's silver coin and Leah's turquoise ring. Running away with her new husband, Jessica trades the ring for a pet monkey, unaware of the ring's value to her father.

The fate of the turquoise ring propels the story, as it falls to the ownership of others, from Leah to Shiloh to Jessica, then to a merchant. A Spanish sailor steals the ring from a merchant, carrying it to the estate of Lady Portia Bel Mente in Treviso. Portia is currently interviewing suitors in a complicated test to win her hand according to her father's will. Nerissa is at Portia's side, now a close friend and confidant. The women met in Venice and have come to Portia's estate to escape the restrictions of society. Another key character is Xanthe, a servant in Portia's household who is a Moor and the daughter of a Jew.

Portia recovers the turquoise ring, ignorant of its history but with her own plans for its disposition. Thereafter, the ring falls into Xanthe's hands, the one woman who holds the secret of the ring, linking past to present. Each of these five women play a critical part, as the ring passes from hand to hand, touching the lives of Jews and Christians alike, an artifact of circumstance. These women reflect the chaos and religious paranoia of the times: Leah, tortured for her religious beliefs, giving birth before she expires; Jessica, raised in Shiloh's traditional Jewish home, rejecting his teachings to marry a Christian of noble birth and ignoble intentions; Nerissa, Jessica's maid, who goes on to match wits with the soon-to-be-wealthy Portia, a cherished friend; and Xanthe, Portia's servant and keeper of secrets, who recognizes Leah's face in that of her daughter, Jessica.

Tiffany, a connoisseur of all things Shakespearean, blends the lives and fortunes of these five women in a tale that touches on the terrible destruction of the Spanish Inquisition and the merchants of Venice, their economy flourishing with the trade of the Jews who have come from Spain. It is the women, mostly powerless, who manipulate the society of men to accomplish their dreams. In a take on The Merchant of Venice from a woman's perspective, fact and fiction blend together in a tale of misspent fortunes, religious intolerance, tattered relationships and the excesses of a century in transition. Luan Gaines/2005.

The Best Yet.......2005-05-31

This book is amazing--surely the best of Grace Tiffany's three wonderful novels. She retells The Merchant of Venice in a way that is completely true to Shakespeare, yet also a new story with a new perspective--that of five women from the play, all connected in some way with a mysterious turquoise ring. The characters are rich and complex, and the dialogue is fluid; Tiffany's compassion and wit shine through, at times making me laugh out loud. The story is at once tragic and hopeful, and one that is very hard to put down once you've begun reading.

Unforgettable.......2005-05-23

This book is a treasure--and not for the reasons I expected when I picked it up. As other reviewers have noted, it is indeed an expert elaboration of the structure and spirit of Shakespeare (in particular, The Merchant of Venice) and a vivid, detailed portrait of the Renaissance period (especially as regards the joys and dangers of living as a Jew). Yet the great strength of the book lies in the ways Tiffany uses these foundational elements to create characters that, for me, are among the most memorable I have encountered in my reading of fiction. My two favorites are Leah and Shiloh. Leah is young, tentative, joyful--then stalwart and loyal as her faith is tested under unbelievable circumstances. Shylock, the (in)famous moneylender, is here recast as a romantic, complex character whose love for Leah is powerful and tragic. Shiloh/Shylock suffers, but the circular narrative Tiffany has created gently offers him--at what should be "the end"--a sweet promise of new beginnings. This promise is so carefully rooted in all the details of Shiloh's history that it brought tears to my eyes. I cannot remember the last time I found the conclusion of a book so intensely satisfying.

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Tangled Destinies
Tangled Destinies (Ecstasy, No. 110)
Diana Blayne , and Diana Palmer
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

Tangled Destinies.......1999-12-24

The back cover reads:

"He was a stranger from the wrong side of town. First he'd saved Gabrielle Bennett's life. Then he'd taken possession of her very soul. She'd been so young but had quickly come to love Marc Stephano with all her heart. Until he had betrayed her. Now, at twenty-six, she was a success in New York's modeling world. Once she would have sacrificed every advantage for the poor boy who'd awakened her. Now she stood face-to-face with the rich, powerful man Marc had become. In spite of herself he possessed her again. But what did she want--to avenge the past or risk the sweet, dangerous passion he offered, a passion that would bind their destinies forever?"

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Timeless Information
Tangled Destinies: Latin America and the United States (Dialogos (Albuquerque, N.M.).)
Don M. Coerver , and Linda B. Hall
Manufacturer: University of New Mexico Press
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Book Description

An imbalance of power and a sense of unresolved tension have long plagued relations between the United States and Latin America. This book offers an important new synthesis of that complex relationship by studying how actions and policies of the United States have been interpreted and played out in Latin America.

Beginning with the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, the United States unilaterally asserted its right to protect the hemisphere against foreign intervention. But what began as a policy boldly proclaiming hemispheric security soon led to direct intervention by the United States in political, economic, and military matters throughout Latin America. Meddling by the United States resulted in deep-seated antagonisms that have adversely impacted U.S.-Latin American relations for over 150 years.

Don Coerver and Linda Hall draw on their expertise in modern Latin American history to present U.S. policies in light of their impact on these countries. They help readers understand the issues that have defined and divided nations of the Western Hemisphere from the 1820s to the present. Events since 1940 are the focus of more than half the book, including the Cuban Revolution and missile crisis; negotiations in the 1970s over turnover of the Panama Canal; wars in Central America in the 1980s; and in the 1990s, the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on relations with Mexico and the effects of the so-called war on drugs throughout the Americas.

Historical overview from both perspectives of the often-troubled and always uneven relationship between the United States and the nations of Latin America.

Customer Reviews:

Timeless Information.......2001-10-31

This book details the relationship between Latin America and the United states in recent history. Not only is this a very interesting tale of violence, money, and struggle, but it is a story that must never be forgotten. The struggle is still ongoing for Latin America to achieve stability and reverence. Coerver and Hall do an excellent job detaling all the important information and provide a remarkable and informative tail of a past that is not so far away.

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Beautiful heiress, Sophia Winterton runs away on her wedding day, defying her hateful Aunt Harriet and her less than loyal fiance, Lord Devenish. Still in her wedding gown, Sophia decides to take the stagecoach to London and seek sanctuary with her godmother. On the long walk to the Eight Bells coaching inn she meets the devastatingly attractive Sir Paul Maunders, who has the reputation of being a rake. However, in spite of his reluctance to get involved, he escorts Sophia to her godmother's house in Islington. But for the difficult and rebellious Sophia her troubles have barely begun. Her evil Aunt Harriet is bent on revenge and Sir Paul is determined to have his own way.

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ZOLAR'S ASTROLOGICAL MURDER MYSTERIES: Private Chats with Zolar; The Heavenly Tattlers; Lure of Satan; Odd Covers; Off the Cuff; Too Many Cooks; The Tangled Web; The Steel Spring; The Last Grain of Sand; Automated Murder; Tools of Destiny
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Garden without a destiny: untangling landscape narratives at the National Museum of Australia.(Tangled Destinies and Garden of Australian Dreams): An article from: Journal of Australian Studies

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Garden without a destiny: untangling landscape narratives at the National Museum of Australia.(Tangled Destinies and Garden of Australian Dreams): An article from: Journal of Australian Studies
Jillian Walliss
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Citation Details
Title: Garden without a destiny: untangling landscape narratives at the National Museum of Australia.(Tangled Destinies and Garden of Australian Dreams)
Author: Jillian Walliss
Publication: Journal of Australian Studies (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 2004
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Tangled Destinies: Latin America and the United States.(Review): An article from: Canadian Journal of History
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Title: Tangled Destinies: Latin America and the United States.(Review)
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Minor Work from a great author

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Minor Work from a great author.......2007-05-30

Excellent graphics, but poor storyline. Compared to titles like Carnivora or Aphrodisia, it's a minor work. The objective of sexual arousal is also failed since there's little number os sex scenes or involving story.

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The Course Made Fresh

An excellent resource for ACIM students

The ideal companion to 'A Course In Miracles'

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"Path of Light" provides a fresh, superb, and penetrating overview of "A Course in Miracles" (ACIM), encompassing what it is, how it was written, what it teaches, and, most of all, how to live it.

Internationally respected Course teacher and author, Robert Perry, has written this enlightening and comprehensive guide for new and experienced Course students, for spiritual seekers who are curious about or open to exploring the Course as a spiritual path, and for those who simply want to incorporate more spirituality into their lives.

"Path of Light" presents the Course as much more than a set of transformative spiritual teachings that simply talk about the goal of inner peace and union with God. It emphasizes the Course as a practical and complete spiritual path that shows us a road we can walk along, one step at a time, in order to actually reach that goal. It explains what must be done to walk this path; it answers the questions that come up at different points along the way; it describes the benefits gained from traveling this road.

Perry writes in a clear, straightforward fashion, and, like a storyteller, he uses simple words to relay the deep truth of the teachings of ACIM.

More challenging than popular "self-help" summaries, yet more practical and engaging than a scholarly analysis, "Path of Light" will provide a new standard of reference on the most remarkable spiritual teaching originating in modern times.

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Customer Reviews:

The Course Made Fresh.......2006-06-28

This is simply a wonderful book, a real breath of fresh air amid some of the dry commentary out there. If you're interested in the Course, or already a student, and you want some guidance and insight, this is a fine place to turn. Just for the record, I am in no way connected to The Circle of Atonement, but I must say that the Circle Publishing books that I've studied are well written, and contain great wisdom. This includes Robert Perry's Glossary for ACIM, The two Workbook Commentaries by Perry and Allen Watson, and this book, Path of Light.

An excellent resource for ACIM students.......2006-03-15

This book helped piece the course together to make it understandable and so relevent. It totally changed my studying habits of the course and broadened my understanding of it. I cannot recommend this book enough for those interested in the course. It was invaluable to me.

The ideal companion to 'A Course In Miracles'.......2005-04-03

Robert Perry is one of the most respected teachers of 'A Course In Miracles'. His previous publications address many aspects of the Course's teachings. In 'Path of Light' he has produced what is arguably his most important work.

The Course has a simple teaching, based on explaining the true meaning and application of forgiveness in our daily lives. This transformative practice will enable us all to reawaken and experience our true Self and relationship with God. This process is not one that is always easy to follow or even accept. To progress requires determination and patience and frequently the support of others.

'Path of Light' is one of the latest support books available. Robert's conversational, but clear and concise, style is ideal for both the beginner and the more serious student. He explains how the Course was received and exactly what it is. He then goes on to explain the the Course's teaching and the role of the Text, Workbbook and Manual for Teachers. A glossary defines the more commonly used terms in the context of the Course. Uniquely, Robert uses diagrams to illustrate the concepts, I found this particularly useful.

As a Course student of over 20 years I have read many related books that have tried to explain the ACIM's overall concepts; this one is the best.

Mike Tolley

ACIM student since 1990.......2004-12-03

I've never written a book review, but I was very inspired after reading this book.
I have been on a break from studying A Course in Miracles (ACIM) and had no intention of starting the lessons again, because my time is so limited working full time. But the book really helped me find that time. What happened was the Holy Spirit moved into my heart and sent me on the right path. I have been a student of ACIM since 1990. This is the BEST book I have ever read on ACIM. I have started to do the lessons again. I do a lesson each day, and then after doing the lesson I read Path of Light. ACIM has a way of coming into an experience so timely when reading it, that it seems like it was written in that moment, for you in that moment. Path of Light has a way of fitting right into the lesson that I'm on for that day. I know that this book was Divinely guided, and I am so grateful that Mr. Perry wrote it. I just bought another Path of Light book for my stepdaughter. She lives in Ft. Collins Colorado and doesn't have a teacher there to help her. This book will be such a help to her. I wish that I had this book when I first started studying ACIM, it would have speeded up my learning. I'm so thankful to Robert Perry for being such a Light to all the ACIM students.

Path of Light Review.......2004-11-20

Robert Perry has a way of making the complex clear with sequential reasoning and sound logic. His book, The Path of Light, does just that by displaying the principles, background and study of A Course in Miracles (ACIM) in language that is easy to understand and read. The viewpoint is pure ACIM standing on its own with no personal prejudices getting in the way. The amazing thing is that it does all of this without sounding like a textbook. It has a page turning quality more like a novel. This is really an enjoyable book to read for either long-term ACIM students or those just beginning. I highly recommend it.

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