The Long Journey of Gracia Mendes
Birnbaum, Marianna D. The historical biography of a true Jewish heroine in her day, Gracia Mendes. Born in 1510 in Portugal, the book details this woman s extraordinary personality until her death in 1569 in Constantinople (today s Istanbul). Her life exemplified a perseverance by the Jewish culture to survive and triumph even in the worst of conditions. As a young girl, Gracia secretly married successful Jewish spice trader, Francisco Mendes. But at age 27 she bec...