The extraordinary mastery of Joseph Roth is manifested in this novel with special lyricism and vigor. The story of Mendel Singer, leaving a crippled son in his native village from the rest of his family to America, serves Roth to resume subtly story of Job and his misfortunes, the loss of faith and experience Of suffering. The old familiar biblical book acquires, in this contemporary development, new and unexpected force. When it was published in 1930, she represented the first major success for its author, consecrating it as one of the greatest writers of his time.