Ternar draws upon the turbulent history of Sephardic Jews in 17th century Amsterdam, the artistic preoccupations of the elderly Rembrandt, and the controversial convictions of the false messiah of Smyrna to create an entrancing tale. The central character of the novel, Samuel, is the man with his back to the viewer at the centre of a Rembrandt etching which depicts a group of Jewish men conversing in front of a synagogue. Ternar's expansive novel gives Samuel a face and a life history. Rembrandt's Model imaginatively suggests how the Wandering Jew—whether travelling in real life, in an etching, or in a dream—was crucial to the spiritual identity of both the Western European and Ottoman cultures. The mystery and wonder of Ternar's novel envelops us as we travel over time and place with Samuel—spanning the centuries to the present day, from Spain, to Amsterdam, to Istanbul, and to Montreal. What the critics said of True Romance with a Sailor: "A compelling collection by an impressive new writer." - Talat Sait Halman, World Literature Today "It's wry offbeatness challenged and captivated me and whetted my appetite for more." - Elaine Kalman Naves, Montreal Gazette

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