Beyond the Ghetto Gates tells the harrowing story of the Jewish people in Ancona, Italy during Napoleon’s invasion through the eyes of a young Jewish maiden named Mirelle.  

Forced out of her father’s beloved workshop by the Rabbi, Mirelle struggles to confirm. She is told that her time is better spent learning to be a good wife from her mother.  A woman is unfit for the job after all.

In the meantime, the Catholics in Ancona grow increasingly anxious with the approaching French army, blaming the Jews. They lash out, killing, and destroying, and cause great suffering. Mirelle and her family try to pick up the pieces as the French army arrives.

With Napoleon’s capture of Ancona, the ghetto gates used to segregate the Jewish people are destroyed, and the French troops do away with the civil limitations imposed on the Jews, at least for a while. 

The story also follows two French soldiers, Daniel and Christophe. Lifelong friends, Daniel is Jewish, and Christophe is Catholic (but not practicing). They cross paths with Mirelle and her best friend, Dolce. A love story takes shape and a marriage proposal for Mirelle. Although, not the one she imagined.

Francesca, a married, devout Catholic woman living in Ancona adds another dimension to the story.  She is torn between her religion and her marriage vows.

We love escaping into the past with a good book.  And Beyond the Ghetto Gates was just the story to bring us back in time to the city of Ancona, Italy in 1796. We chose this as our book club pick for June and everyone loved it.  We had a Zoom meeting with the author, Michelle Cameron and asked all sort of questions about the origins of the book, the research as well as the characters. We highly suggest this book for other book clubs.

By the way, did you know that Napoleon wasn’t really short? 

Rating: 8.5