SPOILERS!!!
So far the novel seesaws between the nineteenth century and the thirteenth /fourteenth century.
In 1885 Thomas Gascon is now working in the store of Madame Michel as he decided he didn't want to do more ironwork. Yet, when he hears that Eiffel is to build an enormous tower, he decides to go and see him because he wants to work there. That year Victor Hugo was given a state funeral, and Thomas went to see the funeral parade. Opposite him there was a girl, who at some point smiled at him, and their eyes met. When the parade passed, he tried to find her but she was nowhere to be found. Thomas tried to find her for many months, and his brother Luc tells him now that he needs to forget about hisJa fantasy girl because there are others like Madame Michel's daughter, Berthe, who he knows likes him.
Now Roland is finishing school, and he is curious about the revolution of 1868 and how many revolutionaries killed many clergymen, but he adds that many of the revolutionaries were killed too. The father does not want to tell him much, and we know that he was the one who executed men like Jacques Le Sourd's father. When Jacques learnt about the death of his father, he swore to avenge his death by killing Roland. We know that Jacques is bidding his time, and Roland is actually in danger. Now Roland wants to join the army, which I fear will not be good for him.
In 1261 Martine is a young widow who starts a relationship with Roland de Cygne, a second son of a noble family, who is studying to be a priest. Martine does not care for Roland, but when he discovers that Roland is playing with her and is with another woman, she wants to have her revenge. She makes him believe that her uncle has learnt about them and wants to beat him up. Actually, Martine hurts herself to make her lie more believable. As a consquence, Roland is afraid and decides to leave Paris. Then he discovers that his older brother has died and now he is the heiress of the estate. Martine has also decided to marry again, this time a merchant called Renard.
In 1307 we get to meet Jacob, a Jew living in Paris. His father was a physician, but he went against his father's wishes, and became a money lender. Jacob marries Sarah, who gives her a daughter, Naomi, but she miscarriages once and two sons don't live enough. So Jacob focuses on Naomi, and the rabbi tells him that people are not happy that he is teaching Naomi to read and write, and apart from that, he has shown her Christian churches and legends. Jacob does not think there is nothing wrong in what he does, and he gets angry, refusing to go to church. His wife is pregnant again and the doctors have told him that the birth could be difficult. Jacob is afraid, but the birth goes seamlessly and little Jacob is born. Then his friend, Renard, who I imagine is the merchant that Martine married, tells him that the king intends to kick the Jews out of France, so he advises him to convert as he has told him otehr times. Jacob finally decides to convert to the shock of everybody, but he swore not to tell what Renard had told him. The dreaded expulsion does not come, but the king announces that he won't protect the Jews from the Inquisition.
Naomi has been asking questions about religion, and these conversations make her think that the church is corrupted. The rabbi comes to see Jacob to tell him that Naomi and his son Aaron has been seen together, and that can't be happening, especially as Aaron has told him that he wants to marry Naomi. Jacob takes measures, and Naomi is kept at home all the time. Then the Jews are arrested and outed, and he hears that Aaron and his family are in Savoy. Naomi leads a normal life again and starts talking about marrying someone. Then Renard tells him that Naomi has been seen with Aaron, and Jacob is late to discourage his daughter from seeing Aaron again. She has left a letter, saying that she and the man she loves have eloped and moved to Aquitaine, where her beloved is from. Jacob realises that Naomi has eloped with Aaron but she has been clever not to detail that in the letter to protect her parents. Then Jacob decides to leave for Savoy.
I like the narration and how all the characters are connected someway throughout the times.
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