The Mapmaker's Daughter by Laurel Corona

"It’s a mapmaker’s job to leave people unsatisfied.” Papa’s spirit whispers as I feel him take his place next to Judah and Simona. “Look at what is not there. Don’t be distracted by what is.” Bartolomeu Dias has rounded the bottom of Africa now. If my father were alive, he would no longer have to draw a vague line to the south, nor guess at legends like islands of gold, but I don’t think that is what he means. “Look at the interiors, look at the faraway places. See how little we know?” - Laurel Corona, The Mapmaker's Daughter

The Mapmaker's Daughter by Laurel Corona is the sixth book I have read for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge hosted by Marg at The Intrepid Reader and Baker.  It's a very well written and researched novel about a dark time in history, the Spanish Inquistion led by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain.  These two brutal leaders are determined that Spain will be an entirely Catholic country and they issue a decree that all Jews are to be expelled from Spain unless they convert.  

And when The Mapmaker's Daughter begins it is 1492 and we are introduced to Amalia Cresques.  She is 66 and has lived in Spain most of her life.  Jehuda Cresques her father was a talented mapmaker as was his father before him.  The family converted from Judiasm to Christianity before Amalia was born to avoid persecution..  But Amalia's mother always felt guilt about that and kept her faith behind closed doors.  This was dangerous because the authorities and the neighbors kept a watch on converts to Christianity and if you were caught observing the Sabbath or practicing any of the tenets of Judiasm you would be killed

And then in 1492 under the rule of Ferdinand and Isabella and the barbaric Torquemada they issue a decree all Jews living in Spain are to be expelled from the country leaving all of their possessions behind.  Amalia Cresques sits in her room waiting to leave Spain with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She wants to take her father's atlas with her which is a beautiful document and has so much meaning.  As Amalia ponders what to do she reflects on her life and we follow her journey.  Amalia is strong and very bright.  She is a translator and has seen alot in her 66 years and she shares what she has been through and learned with the reader.  

It was a terrible time and tragically the evil of antisemitism and a world divided by religion is still with us.  But Amalia is a character worth knowing, a courageous woman who like her mother is able to draw strength from her family and her Jewish faith.  It's a lesson for all of us.