Title: Jacob’s Woes: Or the Tribulations of an Anabaptist 1620-1675
Author: D. Thomas Gochenour
Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 979-8892437554
Pages: 405
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewer: Christina Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
Sometimes in life, people feel a sudden call to action which is unable to be ignored. Whether it is a call to serve one’s country, or a call to a particular faith or belief system, or even a call to a particular profession, there comes a moment in life when a person must either heed that call which comes their way – or face an uncertain future away from that particular direction.
In author D. Thomas Gochenour’s Jacob’s Woes: Or the Tribulations of an Anabaptist 1620-1675, the author explores the life of a young man named Jacob, who finds himself enamored by a recruiter to step up and serve in the military to protect the newly appointed Protestant King of Prague. Yet after a deadly battle ends in defeat and he nearly loses his life, he returns home, only to be denounced as a sinner by his family. In order to win back his salvation, he repents and gets an adult baptism to reaffirm his faith but faces more challenges when the reformed church of Zurich condemns him as a heretic Anabaptist, leading to imprisonment and separation from his family. Jacob’s faith is put to the test as he must either forswear his faith or face expulsion or even execution for his beliefs.
The balance of historical knowledge and faith-based culture the narrative delved into was astonishing. The division and fears that war brought to Prague during this era of history were haunting to behold in this narrative, and the way this extended to individual families and how faith could become such a contentious point of life was expertly woven into the fabric of this narrative. Jacob is a sympathetic and nuanced protagonist, struggling to balance his beliefs with the duties he has to his family, his country and his community, and the reader is emotionally invested in Jacob’s journey as the story progresses. The tension this builds within the story as Jacob gets on his personal journey was perfectly detailed in the emotions and descriptions of each powerful scene the story embellished.
Readers who enjoy fictional narratives, especially those which delve into historical fiction, religion, faith, and questions of moral fiber versus social responsibility, this novel will resonate the most with them. The slow burn of the narrative delivery is fantastic, and the heartbreak and connection readers make as Jacob loses his family in the face of his struggle to keep his faith is an emotional pull readers will not be able to tear themselves away from as the book progresses. A story of faith and the lengths a person will go to stay in their beliefs, this novel is a celebration of realism and history, and delivers a powerful narrative that is both historically accurate and engaging in its delivery. Rich in historical detail and spiritual depth, this powerful narrative honors the enduring strength of faith under fire. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!