Enemies, A Love Story is a multi-layered novel by Nobel Prize winner Isaac Bashevis Singer. This heartbreaking story follows Herman Broder on his descent into hopelessness and despair as he struggles to define himself and the meaning of love amidst a backdrop of a society ripped apart by World War II. Set in an atmosphere of religious persecution, trauma, and multiple marriages of convenience, Enemies, A Love Story is one of America’s greatest modern works of fiction and a must-read for anyone seeking an examination of the power of faith, friendship, and true love.
The novel opens as Herman Broder, a Jewish refugee from Poland, arrives on the doorstep of a man living in upstate New York. The man is his former partner, Yadwiga, who had been taken by the Nazis and is now his legal wife under New York state law. As Herman begins to re-establish his relationship with Yadwiga, he is shocked to realize he is still in love with her but fearful of her reaction. As the story progresses, Herman moves through his desperate attempt to reunite his family and forge meaningful relationships. Through this journey, Herman is also forced to examine his religious and spiritual feelings as he is confronted by memories of terror, death, and loss.
Meanwhile, Herman meets and falls in love with Tamara, a young woman recently released from a concentration camp, while living in Trawniki – a refugee camp overlooking a lake. Despite his deep love for Tamara, Herman struggles to express his commitment to her due to his guilt-ridden past, and is forced to contort his identity in order to find acceptance and peace in their relationship.
Singer examines the horrors of war and religious persecution in Enemies, A Love Story with a rare sensitivity and insight. Paralleling these external events is Herman’s internal turmoil as he attempts to find solace in his faith and redefine his sense of self. This is a complex novel that offers a bleak commentary on the nature of war and love.
The story unfolds in a series of intersecting narrative lines – echoes of those affected by politics and faith – until its tragic conclusion. Through Herman’s story, the reader is presented with a stark portrait of a broken man consumed by guilt and regret, and a society struggling to recover from the atrocities of a brutal regime. Enemies, A Love Story expresses Singer’s unshakable faith in humanity and the importance of compassion as a means of coping with tragedy.
Enemies, A Love Story is an emotionally gripping and thought-provoking work of literature by one of America’s great writers. Singer poignantly captures the effects of war and religious persecution on the human psyche and its devastating consequences. Readers are sure to be moved by this heartbreaking yet ultimately powerful story of one man’s struggle for identity, faith, and true love.
