Four years after the massacres of Chmielnicki in the 17th century, Jacob, a slave and jester in a Polish village in the mountains, falls in love with Vanda, the daughter of his master. When, after his redemption and liberation, he discovers that he cannot live without her, the two escape to a distant Jewish community. While tormented by the awareness of sin for marrying a "non-Jewish" woman, Jacob will remain steadfast in his feelings as the violence of the time threatens to destroy the unfortunate couple.

One of the important novels of the 20th century, perhaps the best of the great Nobel Prize-winning author.