The Numismatist’s Wife

About the Book

Germany 1912 and seventeen-year old Ilse Ehrenkrantz longs for a story that is different from her middle class traditional Jewish life. Fascinated by her artistic explorations of Catholic symbols, Ilse immerses herself in a world outside her family. This decision propels her into a relationship with her cousin, Georg, a spirited story teller and passionate coin collector, who abandons Judaism for a Prussian military career. Ilse’s choices set in motion a series of consequences that divide her family.
Rich with details of the era, this subtle novel—part family saga, part love story—raises questions about Jewish identity, spirituality and desire. At the center are the valuable and mesmerizing coins that will draw Ilse to become The Numismatist’s Wife.

About the Author

Dahlia Japhet was born in Israel and educated in the United States. She studied at the University of Michigan and Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She received her master’s degree in medieval studies at the University of Toronto and then studied at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, the Jewish Theological Seminary and at YIVO, New York City. Among other interests, she is a numismatic hobbyist. She lives in New York City with her two sheepdogs.