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Doug Einfeld's In the Shadow of the Most High: Family Genealogy Meets Jewish History
Doug Einfeld's debut, In the Shadow of the Most High, starts with his discovery of Jewish ancestors in 17th-century Germany and widens into a history running from ancient Israel to medieval Europe.
What did Doug Einfeld write?
His debut book is In the Shadow of the Most High: Uncovering My Jewish Ancestors' Perilous Journey Through History. It begins with a personal discovery: Through genealogy research, through genealogy research, Einfeld found Jewish ancestors in seventeenth-century Germany. From there the book widens into a broad history of Jewish, biblical and Christian events from ancient Israel through medieval Europe. It is the first volume of a series called Rediscovering Our Roots: Judeo-Christian History Revisited, according to the author's site.
The book was listed on NetGalley for early review and earned IndieReader Approved status, which led to an IndieReader feature on Einfeld's advice for writers of history.
Why personal history works as a frame
Big-sweep history can overwhelm readers. Tying it to one family gives readers a reason to care about each era: they want to know what the world looked like for these particular people. Genealogy has also become one of the most popular hobbies in the English-speaking world, thanks to DNA testing and online records, so a book that starts with a family discovery meets many readers where they already are.
Advice for writers bringing history to life
The IndieReader feature centered on writing history with both clarity and depth. Drawing on that theme and on common practice among successful narrative historians, here is a practical checklist:
- Anchor every chapter in a person. Even a chapter on centuries of events needs a human point of entry.
- Explain before analyzing. Present the basic who, when, and where before interpretation.
- Show the sources. Notes and bibliographies establish credibility, especially in contested areas.
- Separate the known from the inferred. Genealogy often requires filling gaps; clearly mark conjecture.
- Choose a clear throughline. For Einfeld, the family's survival connects disparate eras.
Who it suits
Readers interested in Jewish history and its links with Christianity, genealogy enthusiasts who have uncovered surprising ancestors of their own, and church and synagogue study groups looking for an accessible overview. The media kit has background on the author.
Book details
- Title: In the Shadow of the Most High: Uncovering My Jewish Ancestors' Perilous Journey Through History
- Author: Doug Einfeld
- Series: Rediscovering Our Roots: Judeo-Christian History Revisited, volume 1
- ISBN: 9798218912178