The Hope

The Hope is a 1993 historical novel by Herman Wouk about pivotal events in the history of the State of Israel from 1948 to 1967. These include the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the 1956 Sinai War (known in Israel as "Operation Kadesh"), and the Six-Day War. The narrative is continued in the sequel The Glory. In a loose way it can be considered a sequel to Wouk's Second World War books - The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. Though the characters are different, the earlier books gave a major part to the Holocaust and several to their Jewish characters drew Zionist conclusions and sought to get to Mandatory Palestine and take part in creating a Jewish state there. The earlier books - like The Hope and The Glory - used the same mixture of fictional and historical characters whose lives are interweaving against the background of war. Plot summary These crucial events are mainly seen through the eyes of two fictional characters, who meet near the beginning of the novel: Zev Barak and Joseph Blumenthal (nicknamed "Don Kishote"). Wouk portrays several real-life Israeli leaders: David Ben-Gurion, Moshe Dayan, Golda Meir, Mickey Marcus, Yigael Yadin, Ariel Sharon, Motta Gur, and others. Both the real and fictional characters are portrayed as brave and decent human beings with character flaws, who manage to lead Israel through three major wars in spite of the nation being surrounded, outgunned, and torn by internal conflicts as well as external threats. Zev is a junior officer in the unsuccessful attacks on Latrun. Joseph Blumenthal, newly arrived in Israel, joins a new Israeli unit of troops who bravely attack. He acquires the nickname "Don Kishote" when teased about riding a mule wearing an old helmet ("Don Kishote" is Don Quixote in Hebrew). Both Zev and Kishote choose to stay in the Israeli army when the 1948 Arab–Israeli War ends.