The Lord of the Sea

"The Lord of the Sea" by M. P. Shiel, is a late 19th-century novel that explores interconnected lives like Richard and Margaret Hogarth against the backdrop of growing persecution towards Jewish communities in Europe. Set in a world rich with detail, the book navigates themes of identity, love, and power in the face of oppression. The story begins in a Lisbon synagogue during the Day of Atonement, where a woman's premonition of crisis sets off a chain of events. As tensions rise against Jews in Europe, Richard Hogarth, known as the "Black Hogarth," confronts turmoil stemming from economic motives and land disputes. Conflicts intensify around social status, land ownership, and romantic relationships forming the core personal and political drama that weighs heavily on the characters.