About the book: year / Mid-18th century. New ideas and new excitement are sweeping the continent. At this time, a young Jew, Jacob Frank, arrives in a small village in Poland. It is here that his pilgrimage begins, which within a decade will gather an unprecedented number of followers. Jacob Frank will cross the Habsburg and Ottoman empires, reinventing himself again and again. He will convert to Islam, to Catholicism, will be punished in the pillory as a heretic and will be revered as the Messiah. The whole world will watch the chaos of his thoughts, whispering about the strange rituals of his sect. The story of Jacob Frank - a real historical figure, around whom controversy continues to this day - is an ideal canvas for the genius and unparalleled scope of Olga Tokarczuk. Told through the eyes of his contemporaries—those who revere him, those who revile him, those who love him, and those who ultimately betray him—The Books of Jacob capture a world on the cusp of dramatic change and inspire faith in yourself and your capabilities.