The Jewel Trader of Pegu by Jeffrey Hantover

In the late 16th century, a young Jew travels from the Venetian ghetto to the Burmese kingdom of Pegu to acquire jewels for his uncle's business. Through a series of letters to his cousin, we experience Abraham's journey. Initially, the exotic landscape and the strange customs and beliefs of the locals seem uncivilized to Abraham. He is also expected to participate in a local ritual which he considers abhorrent and sinful. But away from the dreary ghetto for the first time, he is no longer singled out and ridiculed for being a Jew and is able to come and go as he pleases, and Abraham experiences true freedom for the first time. As he begins to appreciate the locals and their culture, Abraham finds love with a young local woman. As his time in Pegu draws to an end, Abraham is torn between returning to Venice with the woman he loves, where he will return to the confines of the ghetto and his wife will be shunned, or staying in Pegu, where they will be free to live without judgement. This is a great story of a man who finds freedom and love in an unexpected place. The story unfolds gradually through the letters to his cousin, and at the end of each letter I was anxious for the next one. The lush descriptions bring the exotic landscape and people to life, making this a pleasure to read.