After Anatevka

By: Alexandra Silber

Narrated by: Alexandra Silber, Sheldon Harnick

Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

The world knows well the tale of Tevye, the beloved Jewish dairyman from the shtetl Anatevka of Tsarist Russia. In stories originally written by Sholem Aleichem and then made world-famous in the celebrated musical Fiddler on the Roof, Tevye, his wife Golde, and their five daughters dealt with the outside influences that were encroaching upon their humble lives. But what happened to those remarkable characters after the curtain fell? 

In After Anatevka, Alexandra Silber picks up where Fiddler left off. Second-eldest daughter Hodel takes center stage as she attempts to join her socialist-leaning fiancé Perchik at the outer reaches of a Siberian work camp. But before Hodel and Perchik can finally be together, they both face extraordinary hurdles and adversaries - both personal and political - attempting to keep them apart at all costs. A love story set against a backdrop of some of the greatest violence in European history, After Anatevaka is a stunning conclusion to a tale that has gripped audiences around the globe for decades. 

BONUS CONTENT: Following the conclusion of the novel, listen to After Anatevka: Live, recorded at the Minetta Lane Theatre in NYC in August 2018. The event features excerpts from the novel, as well as music written by a collection of Broadway composer and lyricist teams. For more information, visit www.audible.com/AnatevkaLive.

©2017 Alexandra Silber (P)2018 AO Media, LLC.

Critic Reviews

“This phenomenal story carries the light tone of the earlier musical and the vacillating light and dark moods of Russian literature, all sensitively balanced with perfect timing. A gorgeous, captivating story that truly deserves the name of great historical fiction. Alexandra Silber is notably knowledgeable about her topic, but most of all inserts the ‘Russian soul’ into it that earns it the hallmark of being called classic literature. Extraordinary!” [Historical Novels Review (Editor's Choice)]

“A fully realized, thoughtful literary novel. Fans of [Fiddler on the Roof] and anyone interested in the plight of the Jews in czarist Russia will appreciate this multitalented author’s work.” (Booklist)

“It's no secret that Alexandra Silber is one of our theater’s finest singing actors. But who knew she was a thrilling novelist as well? After Anatevka does Fiddler on the Roof proud.” (Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally)

If you are looking for what happened to the family this isn’t it....

I guess I had hoped that although the story focused on Hodel and Perchick we would get news of the rest of the family through letters etc. Got through the first half before giving up on this book. One reviewer said the book was a mix of ups and downs....I disagree and found the book to be all down. There was so much effort put into political speeches etc that it really seemed to have little or nothing to do with the original story. The flashbacks did not seem to me to match the original characters.
The narrator just didn’t have the Russian accent down and to me her effort made the characters sound like they had an Asian accent. Her delivery was often flat and monotone.
I’m sorry this book did not meet my expectations and I hope others will not be as disappointed as I was.

5 of 8 people found this review helpful

Great sequel to Fiddler on the Roof

If you liked Fiddler on the Roof, then this is a natural sequel. This is a well-written novel by an actress who played Hodel; it is the story of Hodel after she leaves on the train to find Perchik. The audio version is especially nice because at the end is a recording of a performance of excerpts and new songs written for this story.

Great story

Overall I really loved this book. I haven’t gotten this emotionally wrapped up in a book since the Harry Potter series. Very historically accurate and such a soaring love story in the background of a grim Siberia. While I love all the characters she creates, there are a few things I found odd. 1. She gives Hodel an accent but not many of the other characters. But because the rest of the m are Russian and she is Jewish, I can see why she made this choice. !SPOILER AHEAD! After the death of a major character, I don’t feel like the book wrapped up emotionally. My heart was still bleeding from the death and the book wrapped up a page or two later. So that was very disappointing as a reader to have that left unresolved. !END OF SPOILER! But overall it’s a great book and you won’t be disappointed.

Beautiful and moving

This was so deeply heartfelt in its writing and performance, if you aren't moved, you must be dead inside. You get an occasional glimpse into some of the other characters from FOTR, but this is Hoedel and Percheck's story and it is a tragic, beautiful, joyous one.