Yiddish for pirates : a novel : being an account of Moishe the captain, his meshugeneh life & the astounding adventures, his Sarah, the horizon, books & treasure, as told by Aaron, his African grey

Shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and nominated for the Governor-General's Award for Literature, a hilarious, swashbuckling yet powerful tale of pirates, buried treasure and a search for the Fountain of Youth, told in the ribald, philosophical voice of a 500-year-old Jewish parrot.Set in the years around 1492, Yiddish for Pirates recounts the compelling story of Moishe, a Bar Mitzvah boy who leaves home to join a ship's crew, where he meets Aaron, the polyglot parrot who becomes his near-constant companion.From a present-day Florida nursing home, this wisecracking yet poetic bird guides us through a world of pirate ships, Yiddish jokes and treasure maps. But Inquisition Spain is a dangerous time to be Jewish and Moishe joins a band of hidden Jews trying to preserve some forbidden books. He falls in love with a young woman, Sarah; though they are separated by circumstance, Moishe's wanderings are motivated as much by their connection as by his quest for loot and freedom. This outstanding New Face of Fiction is filled with Jewish takes on classic pirate tales - fights, prison escapes, and exploits on the high seas - but it's also a tender love story, between Moishe and Sarah, and between Aaron and his "shoulder," Moishe. Rich with puns, colourful language, post-colonial satire and Kabbalistic hijinks, Yiddish for Pirates is also a compelling examination of mortality, memory, identity and persecution from one of this country's most talented writers. Shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and nominated for the Governor-General's Award for Literature, a hilarious, swashbuckling yet powerful tale of pirates, buried treasure and a search for the Fountain of Youth, told in the ribald, philosophical voice of a 500-year-old Jewish parrot. Set in the years around 1492, Yiddish for Pirates recounts the compelling story of Moishe, a Bar Mitzvah boy who leaves home to join a ship's crew, where he meets Aaron, the polyglot parrot who becomes his near-constant companion. From a present-day Florida nursing home, this wisecracking yet poetic bird guides us through a world of pirate ships, Yiddish jokes and treasure maps. But Inquisition Spain is a dangerous time to be Jewish and Moishe joins a band of hidden Jews trying to preserve some forbidden books. He falls in love with a young woman, Sarah; though they are separated by circumstance, Moishe's wanderings are motivated as much by their connection as by his quest for loot and freedom. When all Jews are expelled from Spain, Moishe travels to the Caribbean with the ambitious Christopher Columbus, a self-made man who loves his creator. Moishe eventually becomes a pirate and seeks revenge on the Spanish while seeking the ultimate booty: the Fountain of Youth. This outstanding New Face of Fiction is filled with Jewish takes on classic pirate tales--fights, prison escapes, and exploits on the high seas--but it's also a tender love story, between Moishe and Sarah, and between Aaron and his "shoulder," Moishe. Rich with puns, colourful language, post-colonial satire and Kabbalistic hijinks, Yiddish for Pirates is also a compelling examination of mortality, memory, identity and persecution from one of this country's most talented writers. Longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, a hilarious, swashbuckling yet powerful tale of pirates, buried treasure and a search for the Fountain of Youth, told in the ribald, philosophical voice of a 500-year-old Jewish parrot. Set in the years around 1492, Yiddish for Pirates recounts the compelling story of Moishe, a Bar Mitzvah boy who leaves home to join a ship's crew, where he meets Aaron, the polyglot parrot who becomes his near-constant companion. From a present-day Florida nursing home, this wisecracking yet poetic bird guides us through a world of pirate ships, Yiddish jokes and treasure maps. But Inquisition Spain is a dangerous time to be Jewish and Moishe joins a band of hidden Jews trying to preserve some forbidden books. He falls in love with a young woman, Sarah; though they are separated by circumstance, Moishe's wanderings are motivated as much by their connection as by his quest for loot and freedom. When all Jews are expelled from Spain, Moishe travels to the Caribbean with the ambitious Christopher Columbus, a self-made man who loves his creator. Moishe eventually becomes a pirate and seeks revenge on the Spanish while seeking the ultimate booty: the Fountain of Youth.This outstanding New Face of Fiction is filled with Jewish takes on classic pirate tales--fights, prison escapes, and exploits on the high seas--but it's also a tender love story, between Moishe and Sarah, and between Aaron and his "shoulder, " Moishe. Rich with puns, colourful language, post-colonial satire and Kabbalistic hijinks, Yiddish for Pirates is also a compelling examination of mortality, memory, identity and persecution from one of this country's most talented writers.--Résumé de l'éditeur Longlisted For The Scotiabank Giller Prize, A Hilarious, Swashbuckling Yet Powerful Tale Of Pirates, Buried Treasure And A Search For The Fountain Of Youth, Told In The Ribald, Philosophical Voice Of A 500-year-old Jewish Parrot. Set In The Years Around 1492, Yiddish For Pirates Recounts The Compelling Story Of Moishe, A Bar Mitzvah Boy Who Leaves Home To Join A Ship's Crew, Where He Meets Aaron, The Polyglot Parrot Who Becomes His Near-constant Companion. From A Present-day Florida Nursing Home, This Wisecracking Yet Poetic Bird Guides Us Through A World Of Pirate Ships, Yiddish Jokes And Treasure Maps. But Inquisition Spain Is A Dangerous Time To Be Jewish And Moishe Joins A Band Of Hidden Jews Trying To Preserve Some Forbidden Books. He Falls In Love With A Young Woman, Sarah; Though They Are Separated By Circumstance, Moishe's Wanderings Are Motivated As Much By Their Connection As By His Quest For Loot And Freedom. When All Jews Are Expelled From Spain, Moishe Travels To The Caribbean With The Ambitious Christopher Columbus, A Self-made Man Who Loves His Creator. Moishe Eventually Becomes A Pirate And Seeks Revenge On The Spanish While Seeking The Ultimate Booty: The Fountain Of Youth. This Outstanding New Face Of Fiction Is Filled With Jewish Takes On Classic Pirate Tales--fights, Prison Escapes, And Exploits On The High Seas--but It's Also A Tender Love Story, Between Moishe And Sarah, And Between Aaron And His Shoulder, Moishe. Rich With Puns, Colourful Language, Post-colonial Satire And Kabbalistic Hijinks, Yiddish For Pirates Is Also A Compelling Examination Of Mortality, Memory, Identity And Persecution From One Of This Country's Most Talented Writers. By Gary Barwin. "Set in the years around 1492, 'Yiddish for Pirates' tells the story of Moishe, a young man who, enchanted by maps and seeking adventure, leaves the shtetl to join a ship's crews. There he meets Aaron, our ribald yet philosophical parrot narrator who becomes his near-constant companion. With a beakful of Yiddish jokes, this wisecracking bird guides us through a swashbuckling world of exploits on the high seas, from exploration and daring escapes to piracy, revenge and the ultimate search for the Fountain of Youth. A post-colonial satire filled with Kabbalistic hijinks, this is also a tender love story between Moishe and his true love, Sarah, and between Arron and his 'shoulder, ' Moishe."--Page 4 of cover. ALonglisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, a hilarious, swashbuckling yet powerful tale of pirates, buried treasure and a search for the Fountain of Youth, told in the ribald, philosophical voice of a 500-year-old Jewish parrot. Set in the years around 1492, -- Yiddish for Pirates From the Hardcover edition