How is tonight different from all other nights? For Jacob Rappaport, a Jewish soldier in the Union army, it is a question his commanders have answered for him: on Passover in 1862, he is ordered to murder his own uncle, who is plotting to assassinate President Lincoln.
After that night, will Jacob ever speak for himself? The answer comes when his commanders send him on another mission—this time not to murder a spy but to marry one.
A compelling novel rich with romance and the history of America (North and South), this is a book only Dara Horn could have written. Full of insight and surprise, layered with meaning, it is a brilliant parable of the moral divide that still haunts us: between those who value family first and those who are dedicated, at any cost, to social and racial justice for all.
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"i am reading this for a book club, and absolutely love it! it is so well written and interesting. It takes place in the civil war time and is about a Jewish union spy in love with a Jewish confederate spy and what they have to go through during the war. It is so good!"
— Laurie (5 out of 5 stars)
With only the inflections of his voice, Dufris makes real the cacophony of battle, the sounds of a slave auction, and the refined tones of a Southern drawing room.
— AudioFile" Easy to read and from a different time period than I usually read about, especially for a Jewish protagonist. "
— Eliana, 2/19/2014" Really slow start -- I wasn't sure that I was going to like it and/or finish it, but midway through I couldn't put it down. The ending was a little hokey, but overall, it's an interesting read. "
— Margaret, 2/12/2014" Jewish spies during the Civil War? Yes, please. Thanks for the great rec, Sarah! "
— Betsy, 2/10/2014" Intricately woven tale brings to the fore conflicts of morality, God, country and family for Jews of the North and South during the Civil War. "
— Renee, 2/6/2014" All Other Nights has intrigue, romance, and moral ambiguities. A book club pick,it was a quick and interesting read. "
— Ruth, 2/4/2014" Dara Horn is an incredible author. I learned so much about the Civil War through this book, as well as the complicated positions that many families with divided loyalties found themselves in. "
— Lauren, 2/4/2014" A page turner....Jews during the civil war on both sides. Based on some truth and a lot of "fiction". The coincidences are a bit far fetched but makes for an interesting "ride"/story. "
— Sharon, 1/31/2014" This was beyond trashy. It had a Civil War theme and J said hey read it....The book cover makes a big deal about the author having a doctorate from Harvard, which just confirms my theory about the Ivy League schools. The only thing I appreciated was that the main character ends up wounded, which you almost never see in novels. Beyond that it was a bodice ripper.... "
— Lewis, 1/29/2014" This book grabbed me at the very beginning but then, sadly, lost my interest. I felt the main character had no backbone and was everyone's puppet. I love historical fiction, expecially the Civil War time period, but this book let me down. "
— Leah, 1/20/2014" I liked this book, but not as much as The World to Come (her other novel I read). It is very plot-driven, which is not usually my cup of tea, but I found it very compelling and interesting. "
— Haley, 12/28/2013" I loved this book. I don't usually go for romances but I picked it up because I always go for Civil War era stories. The main character of the story was a bit of a wimp, but it still worked for me. "
— Shelly, 12/7/2013" Interesting historical fiction involving the lives on both sides of the civil war blending a love story and a story of spies, murder and loss. "
— Linda, 11/28/2013" I've really liked Horn's other books. They have magical realism feel, like modern fairy tales. But All Other Nights didn't have any of that sense of wonder, and it was permeated with sadness. "
— Pancha, 11/26/2013" It at first seemed like I wasn't going to like it, but then there was a plot twist and I was hooked--to the point that I would tell friends "I'll stay in the car and wait while you run your errand" just so I could read more. "
— Mary, 5/29/2013" Great story line - horrible character development! "
— Merry, 11/15/2012" I really liked this book-- it challenges you to think what your limits are for personal and professional sacrifice "
— Mslogar, 10/16/2012" I'm not really much of a civil war buff, so I wasn't too crazy about this story. That said, it was well written and well developed. If you like historical fiction, you'll probably like this. "
— dcbcd, 5/9/2012" I enjoyed this book and a peek into the lives of the Jews who lived in America at the time of the Civil War. "
— Judy, 4/2/2012" Again, I love me some historical fiction. A very enjoyable, suspenseful, entertaining Civil War era spy novel! "
— Courtney, 2/12/2012" Riveting. I could not put it down. "
— Ilana, 10/15/2011" 4.5 really. Loved this one. "
— Erica, 9/20/2011" this civil war novel gave me the feeling of a war fought by very young people. their participation as soldier, spy, family member, and/ or just 'person-entering-adulthood' was shown so well through situations that the result was breathtaking. what a great story. "
— Glynn, 8/28/2011" Well written historical novel set during the Civil War. I checked many facts and it appears that the author did her research. Not thrilled with the ending - but other than that - really nice reading. "
— Ronnie, 5/11/2011" I liked this book, but not as much as The World to Come (her other novel I read). It is very plot-driven, which is not usually my cup of tea, but I found it very compelling and interesting. "
— Haley, 5/10/2011" Very different vantage point in this Civil War story.Many twists and turns, joys and sorrows. Loved it "
— Rita, 4/22/2011" I got soooooo bored about halfway through. Kinda cheesy, but if you're into historical fiction then I suppose you'll like it. "
— Linda, 4/2/2011" I thought the book was very good, and a quick read. "
— Julie, 3/29/2011" I really liked this book-- it challenges you to think what your limits are for personal and professional sacrifice "
— Mslogar, 3/24/2011" Weaving the Civil War and the Jews of the North and South together, Horn takes the reader on a heartrending adventure filled with betrayal, love and loss which begins a little slowly and then, whoosh, you're immersed! "
— Kay, 3/16/2011" This book grabbed me at the very beginning but then, sadly, lost my interest. I felt the main character had no backbone and was everyone's puppet. I love historical fiction, expecially the Civil War time period, but this book let me down. "
— Leah, 3/8/2011" Interesting novel of a Jewish Union spy during the Civil War. Some historical figures, most notably a Judah Benjamin, the Confederacy's Jewish secretary of state are featured.<br/><br/>I got a little confused at times over which side some characters were on, but I did not worry about it. "
— Cindy, 3/7/2011" A civil war romance from a Jewish perspective--very interesting and refreshing. A fast paced, entertaining read. "
— Emma, 2/13/2011" Engaging story and enough historical context to give you the sense that you're learning something. "
— Jeff, 2/11/2011" Thoroughly enjoyed it. A good quick read. "
— Leora, 2/8/2011Dara Horn is the author of five novels and one of Granta’s Best Young American Novelists. She has taught Jewish literature at Harvard, Sarah Lawrence College, and Yeshiva University.
William Dufris attended the University of Southern Maine in Portland-Gorham before pursuing a career in voice work in London and then the United States. He has won more than twenty AudioFile Earphones Awards, was voted one of the Best Voices at the End of the Century by AudioFile magazine, and won the prestigious Audie Award in 2012 for best nonfiction narration. He lives with his family in Maine.