The story of Frank - a real historical figure around whom mystery and controversy swirl to this day - is the perfect canvas for the genius and unparalleled reach of Olga Tokarczuk.

In the decade to come, Frank will traverse the Hapsburg and Ottoman empires with throngs of disciples in his thrall as he reinvents himself again and again, converts to Islam and then Catholicism, is pilloried as a heretic and revered as the Messiah, and wreaks havoc on the conventional order, Jewish and Christian alike, with scandalous rumors of his sect's secret rituals and the spread of his increasingly iconoclastic beliefs. Before long, he has changed not only his name but his persona visited by what seem to be ecstatic experiences, Jacob Frank casts a charismatic spell that attracts an increasingly fervent following. In the mid-eighteenth century, as new ideas - and a new unrest - begin to sweep the Continent, a young Jew of mysterious origins arrives in a village in Poland. Historical fiction at its finest: I will be thinking about The Books Of Jacob’s characters and places for years to come, and I am mesmerised at how the author managed to weave this tale together to produce such a significant piece of work.The Nobel Prize-winner's richest, most sweeping and ambitious novel yet follows the comet-like rise and fall of a mysterious, messianic religious leader as he blazes his way across eighteenth-century Europe. Despite not being the easiest travelling companion due to its sheer weight, I am extremely glad that it was translated into the English language, expertly crafted by Jennifer Croft who conveys the essence of the novel so well.

Tokarczuk has received much acclaim for previous work, including being awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Literature and the 2018 International Booker Prize for previous novel, Flights. Highlighting the different religious movements, there is a strong focus on the numerous characters – numerous enough for me to create a list, I must confess. It’s difficult to convey the detail and scope as the story follows Jacob Frank, mystic and sect-leader, as he travels across the borders of Eastern Europe and sheds light on a significant period of its history.

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