BOOK REVIEW REPORT

Feb 27 2009
Lt Dashmir Shatra
SCN: 0833201
1.
Title: Exodus by Leon Uris
2.
Publisher: Bantam Books 1986 ( 1958)
3.
Number of pages: 600
4.
International Bestseller
5.
Reason of choosing this book: Recommended
6.
Novel; Historical fiction
7.
More than 1 million copies in print.
Over 250.000 copies sold up-to-date (8000 copies per week)
8.
Setting: Cyprus, Middle East, 1946- 1948
9.
Main Characters
a. Ari Ben Canaan
b. Katherine Kitty Fremont
d. Karen (Hansen) Klement
e. Dov Landau
f. Jordana Ben Canaan
g. Barak Ben Canaan (Jossi Rabinsky)
h. Akiva (Yakov Rabinsky)
10. I recommend the book for those who are interested in history. Its a book not to be missed

Book summary
In this book, the author combines the history of the difficulties that the Jewish people have had in
order to live in freedom in their own home land. It all starts in 1946, in Cyprus, where there was settled a
detention camp for the Jews that have tried to emigrate in Israel, but have been caught by the British and
have been transported in that camp. This books title derives from the name of a shipExodusthat was
used to transport 300 children to Israel. This mission needed to be accomplished in complete discreetness
in order to avoid the British forces that were in control of the island. After the end of WWII Jews from all
over Europe began to illegally immigrate to Palestine. However, since Palestine was a British Protectorate
the English blockaded the coast and sent the incoming Jews to Cyprus to withhold Arab rebellions. The
story focuses on an Israeli freedom fighter and an American nurse, and begins on the Island of Cyprus, in a
detention camp for Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. Its the same place where Ari Ben Cannan and
Katherine Fremont met for the first time.
Ari, working for Palmachniksa Jewish organization that fought for the freedom of Israelcame
in Cyprus with the mission of taking back to Israel 300 children. Thats the starting point of the story of
him and Katherine Fremont, the American nurse, who denied the luxurious life in the U.S. to go and live in
Israel. But Ari wasnt the only reason for her to do so. In addition to her love for Ari, Kitty had another
reason to go to Palestine. That reason was Karen Hansen Clement; a little girl that had escaped the hard
times in Europe during WWII and was living in the detention camp. The three of them, together with other
300 children were to leave for Israel. But that wasnt an easy thing to do because of the British policy
which limited the immigration of the Jews to Israel. Although they were blocked since the beginning of the
journey, the children persuaded the British by going on a hunger strike on the ship. After 4 days of strike
and after the threats that the children would commit suicide if not let to sail, the British opened the way
with the condition that the children had to be cured before starting the long journey to the Promised Land.
After finally arriving in the Holy Land, Ari led the children to the northern part of Israel, where they
were settled in the village of Gan Dafna. There Kitty took care of the children of the Exodus. She wanted to
go back to U.S. and she wanted to take Karen with her. At the last moment, when they were ready to live,
Kitty decided to stay because she didnt want to be far from Ari. So she stayed there even though Ari hadnt

revealed his love for her yet. Gan Dafna was a small village that was built by the voluntary forces of
Palestine. All over the country, these forces had taken up the responsibility of building new settlements for
the people that were emigrating from different countries. In Gan Dafna, as well as in other places all over
Israel, existed a peaceful life and all the people seemed happy because the tortures and the suffering had
finished for them. But as the time passed, Israel was threatened by the Arab countries that were around it.
They were the same people who had sold the swamps to the Jews, but when they saw the progress and the
fertility of them, they got eager to have them back. Being under the protection of the British Army, Israel
was safe and the Arabs couldnt do anything about it.
The secular, Jewish case was brought up in the headquarters of the United Nations. In November
1947, the General Assembly of the U.N. held the session for the partition of Palestine from the Arab World.
Different countries from all over the world voted for it and the most part agreed for partition. After this act
Great Britain decided to withdraw its troops so Israel wouldnt be under their defense anymore. As soon as
the British started to withdraw, the Arabs began attacking the Jewish people. Ari as the leader of the
Palmacshniks had to take care for the armament of the Jews. So he traveled in different countries and
brought back a lot of weapons and ammunition for his people. After they were well supplied, the Jews
fought back, and finally they won their freedom and peace. This was a great event for the whole country.
Everybody was celebrating when Kitty, Ari and all the others learned that Karen was murdered by a
gang from Gaza. This caused a lot of pain for everyone. Yet Kitty wanted to go back into her country but
she realized that Ari needed her more than ever. He finally opened his heart to her and she promised that
she wouldnt leave him alone regardless of what would happen. A lot of people lost their life, a lot of
people had been suffering all their life, but these people never ceased to hope for a better life in their free
Promised Land.