Reuben Sachs- A Sketch cover art

Reuben Sachs- A Sketch

Reuben Sachs- A Sketch

By: Amy Levy
Listen for free

About this listen

 In mid-19th century London, Reuben Sachs is a promising lawyer with political ambitions that steer clear of a conventional marriage to Judith Quixano, the daughter of a respectable yet unremarkable family. For Judith, who finds herself navigating a society that offers her few options—either a loveless marriage or a life of dependency—Reuben’s presence symbolizes a glimmer of hope. Amy Levy, a pioneering feminist, Jew, and lesbian, sheds light on the complexities of Anglo-Jewish cultural norms and the struggle of would-be independent women in Victorian society. In contrast to the idealized portrayals in contemporary literature, such as George Eliots Daniel Deronda, Levy presents a raw and honest depiction of middle-class Jewish life in late-19th century London in REUBEN SACHS. While many of her peers viewed the book as a shanda fur die goyim (an embarrassment), Oscar Wilde praised its directness, uncompromising truths, depth of feeling, and the absence of superfluous words, deeming it a classic. Born in London in 1861 and educated at Newnham College, Cambridge, Levy was part of a vibrant social circle that included Beatrix Potter and Eleanor Marx, as well as her lover Vernon Lee (Violet Padget). (Summary by Adrian Praetzellis)Copyright Fiction Classics Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 010 - Chapter 19 and Epilogue

    010 - Chapter 19 and Epilogue
    Feb 19 2026
    In mid-19th century London, Reuben Sachs is a promising lawyer with political ambitions that steer clear of a conventional marriage to Judith Quixano, the daughter of a respectable yet unremarkable family. For Judith, who finds herself navigating a society that offers her few options—either a loveless marriage or a life of dependency—Reuben’s presence symbolizes a glimmer of hope. Amy Levy, a pioneering feminist, Jew, and lesbian, sheds light on the complexities of Anglo-Jewish cultural norms and the struggle of would-be independent women in Victorian society. In contrast to the idealized portrayals in contemporary literature, such as George Eliots Daniel Deronda, Levy presents a raw and honest depiction of middle-class Jewish life in late-19th century London in REUBEN SACHS. While many of her peers viewed the book as a shanda fur die goyim (an embarrassment), Oscar Wilde praised its directness, uncompromising truths, depth of feeling, and the absence of superfluous words, deeming it a classic. Born in London in 1861 and educated at Newnham College, Cambridge, Levy was part of a vibrant social circle that included Beatrix Potter and Eleanor Marx, as well as her lover Vernon Lee (Violet Padget). (Summary by Adrian Praetzellis)
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • 009 - Chapters 17 and 18

    009 - Chapters 17 and 18
    Feb 19 2026
    In mid-19th century London, Reuben Sachs is a promising lawyer with political ambitions that steer clear of a conventional marriage to Judith Quixano, the daughter of a respectable yet unremarkable family. For Judith, who finds herself navigating a society that offers her few options—either a loveless marriage or a life of dependency—Reuben’s presence symbolizes a glimmer of hope. Amy Levy, a pioneering feminist, Jew, and lesbian, sheds light on the complexities of Anglo-Jewish cultural norms and the struggle of would-be independent women in Victorian society. In contrast to the idealized portrayals in contemporary literature, such as George Eliots Daniel Deronda, Levy presents a raw and honest depiction of middle-class Jewish life in late-19th century London in REUBEN SACHS. While many of her peers viewed the book as a shanda fur die goyim (an embarrassment), Oscar Wilde praised its directness, uncompromising truths, depth of feeling, and the absence of superfluous words, deeming it a classic. Born in London in 1861 and educated at Newnham College, Cambridge, Levy was part of a vibrant social circle that included Beatrix Potter and Eleanor Marx, as well as her lover Vernon Lee (Violet Padget). (Summary by Adrian Praetzellis)
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • 008 - Chapters 15 and 16

    008 - Chapters 15 and 16
    Feb 19 2026
    In mid-19th century London, Reuben Sachs is a promising lawyer with political ambitions that steer clear of a conventional marriage to Judith Quixano, the daughter of a respectable yet unremarkable family. For Judith, who finds herself navigating a society that offers her few options—either a loveless marriage or a life of dependency—Reuben’s presence symbolizes a glimmer of hope. Amy Levy, a pioneering feminist, Jew, and lesbian, sheds light on the complexities of Anglo-Jewish cultural norms and the struggle of would-be independent women in Victorian society. In contrast to the idealized portrayals in contemporary literature, such as George Eliots Daniel Deronda, Levy presents a raw and honest depiction of middle-class Jewish life in late-19th century London in REUBEN SACHS. While many of her peers viewed the book as a shanda fur die goyim (an embarrassment), Oscar Wilde praised its directness, uncompromising truths, depth of feeling, and the absence of superfluous words, deeming it a classic. Born in London in 1861 and educated at Newnham College, Cambridge, Levy was part of a vibrant social circle that included Beatrix Potter and Eleanor Marx, as well as her lover Vernon Lee (Violet Padget). (Summary by Adrian Praetzellis)
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.