Dreamers of the Ghetto

"Dreamers of the Ghetto" by Israel Zangwill is a historical fiction that follows the journeys of notable Jewish people coming from the Ghetto, highlighting their battles as artists and thinkers against limits placed on them by society. The story focuses on characters who wrestle with who they are, what they want, and the norms surrounding their community. The book starts with a narrator who tells the tale of a child in the Venetian Ghetto, remembering his days spent in its dimly lit alleyways and among its strong traditions. The child observes the lively Ghetto life from a high window, happily ignorant of the world beyond and the stigma his people carry. The Ghetto seems like a magical place to him, full of customs and ceremonies that shape his world, until he starts to face the challenging truth of his community's separation and its people's state of mind. This first look lays the groundwork for the strong emotional and cultural ideas that drive the themes throughout the story.