The Mandelbaum Gate

The Mandelbaum Gate is a novel written by Scottish author Muriel Spark published in 1965. The title refers to the Mandelbaum Gate in Jerusalem, around which the novel is set.

This article is about the 1965 novel. For the 1954 story (بوابة مندلباوم) by Emil Habibi, see Emil Habibi.

The Mandelbaum Gate
First edition
AuthorMuriel Spark
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
PublisherMacmillan (UK)
Knopf (US)
Publication date
1965
Media typePrint & Audio
Pages330
OCLC4019350

In 1965, it won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize that year.[1] In 2012, it was shortlisted for the Best of the James Tait Black.[2][3] It was included in Anthony Burgess's 1984 book Ninety-Nine Novels: The Best in English since 1939 — A Personal Choice. [4]

Plot introduction

The book is set in Jerusalem in 1961 (with the backdrop of the Adolf Eichmann trial). Whilst on a pilgrimage to Holy Land, half Jewish Catholic-convert Barbara Vaughan is planning to meet her fiance Harry Clegg, an archaeologist working in Qumran (where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found). To do this she must pass through the Mandelbaum Gate into Jordanian held Jerusalem; due to her Jewish roots this is a dangerous operation and she enlists the help of Freddy Hamilton, a staid British diplomat and various Arab contacts who may or may not be sympathetic to her cause.

References
  1. "Previous winners - fiction | James Tait Black Prize winners | People". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  2. Russell Leadbetter (21 October 2012). "Book prize names six of the best in search for winner". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  3. "Authors in running for 'best of best' James Tait Black award". BBC News. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  4. Burgess, Anthony (5 February 1984). "MODERN NOVELS; THE 99 BEST". The New York Times.


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