The Books of Jacob: A Novel

Jacob Frank was a Jew living in 18th century Poland. He was a proclaimed Messiah who lead a group of people. This book is a fictionalized account of his life and times. He would seemingly convert to Islam and Christianity. His brand of beliefs would alienate the other Jews and not fully accepted by Christians. His followers tended to stick together rather than become part of the general Christian culture. They did not feel obligated to follow the previous rules. "Illegitimate" children were common. The book is very long, but does provide an interesting view of life in 18th century Poland.