The Fanatic (novel)

The Fanatic is a historical novel by Israeli author Aharon Appelfeld, originally published in Hebrew as Kolinir (קוליניר). The novel, translated into English by Jeffrey M. Green, tells the story of Aaron, a Jewish boy adopted and raised by a Christian family in Austria during the interwar period and into World War II.

Aaron's unusual upbringing provides him a unique perspective on the rising antisemitism and the growing Nazi influence. Though raised Christian, his Jewish heritage is eventually revealed, forcing him to confront his identity and the escalating persecution of Jews in Europe.

The narrative explores themes of identity, assimilation, religious conflict, the psychology of prejudice, and the search for belonging in a time of profound societal upheaval and violence. Aaron's internal struggle between his adopted Christian identity and his biological Jewish heritage forms the core of the novel. The novel also delves into the motivations and mindsets of both the persecutors and the persecuted during the Holocaust.