The Finkler Question

Julian Treslove, an unremarkable former BBC radio producer with a long record of failed romances, has kept in touch with his old school friend Sam Finkler, now a popular Jewish philosopher and television personality, and with Libor Sevcik, who once taught them both. Finkler and Libor have each just lost their wives. After a dinner at Libor's flat, a woman robs Treslove in the street and seems to call him a Jew, and he becomes absorbed by the question of Jewishness: he lists the traits he believes his friend has and he lacks, and pursues a Jewish identity through food, reading and Jewish lovers. Finkler meanwhile keeps his own heritage at arm's length, Libor struggles with his grief, and the story turns to friendship, belonging and antisemitism in today's London.

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About the book

Form

Novel

Set in

United Kingdom

First published

2010

Author's age

68 when first published

ISBN

9781408808870 (Bloomsbury, United Kingdom)

9781608196111 (Bloomsbury USA, United States)

9781408809938 (Bloomsbury Paperbacks, United Kingdom)

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