Podcast Summary:
New Books Network — Interview with Barbara Stark-Nemon on “Isabela’s Way”
Host: G.P. Gottlieb
Guest: Barbara Stark-Nemon
Date: September 30, 2025
Episode Focus: Exploring the inspiration, research, and historical context behind Barbara Stark-Nemon’s upcoming historical novel, Isabela’s Way (She Writes Press, 2025)—a story of resilience and hidden Jewish lives in 17th-century Portugal and beyond.
Episode Overview
This episode delves into the genesis and intricate historical background of Isabela’s Way, a novel rooted in the Sephardic Jewish experience post the 1492 expulsion from Spain and the ensuing Inquisition. The conversation examines how personal ancestry and historical research blend into narrative fiction, the covert methods of survival for Jewish families, and the enduring relevance of uncovering marginalized histories.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Origins and Inspiration for “Isabela’s Way”
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Ancestral Spark:
- Stark-Nemon shares that the first inkling of her novel came during a profound “warrior women” cycling trip, which included a sunrise at a Celtic stone circle. This moment “felt like [her] ancestors reaching out.”
- Quote:
“This 14-year-old embroideress just came kind of fully formed, jumped into my head. That was in 2011.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [03:31]
-
Personal Genealogy and Character Creation:
- The author describes using her great-grandfather’s genealogical research to trace a branch of her family from Abrantes, Portugal (b.1586) to Hamburg, Germany (d.1655), and constructing a fictional character inspired by this discovery.
- Quote:
“I discovered my ancestor… born in the branch Portugal in 1586 and then died in Hamburg… I created my character around that knowledge.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [05:18]
Historical Context: The Inquisition and Expulsion
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Edict of Expulsion (1492) and its Aftermath:
- Stark-Nemon explains the political and religious motives that led Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain to force Jews and Muslims to convert, flee, or face execution. Many chose exile and moved to Portugal for relative tolerance.
- Quote:
“You either convert to Catholicism or you leave or you die. Basically, that was the deal… They simply moved over the border into Portugal.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [07:13; 08:12]
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Portugal’s Delicate Tolerance and Eventual Persecution:
- Portuguese leadership initially allowed conversos (converted Jews) to remain because of their value in trade and navigation. A royal marriage later led to the imposition of stricter Inquisition policies in Portugal.
- Quote:
“For the next hundred years, there was kind of a look the other way attitude… until a marriage between a Portuguese prince and a Spanish princess...” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [09:03]
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Precarity and Instability:
- The host points out that the Catholic Church’s motives changed over time, seeking to retain the “labor and capital” of new Christians while keeping them under close scrutiny.
- Quote:
“The sense of instability, of never quite knowing where you were economically or politically or what your relationship was to the Church—that was part of what made that time so fraught.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [10:17]
Research into Secret Networks and Historical Figures
- Covert Escapes:
- Stark-Nemon recounts her efforts to find evidence of a land-based “underground railroad” for Jewish families fleeing Portugal into France and Germany—a network she dramatizes in the novel.
- She discovered inspiration in Donna Gracia Nasi, a real 16th-century Jewish businesswoman who orchestrated migrations primarily to Venice and later Constantinople.
- Quote:
“I created in my novel [a network], but honestly, I looked really deeply… and could not find the land version of that… But in the century before, there was an extraordinary woman, Donna Gracia Nasi…” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [11:10]
The Legacy and Tourism of Jewish Spain
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Jewish Heritage in Spain Today:
- Discussion of cities like Girona, where historical evidence of Jewish life is preserved for “heritage tourism,” despite the near absence of Jewish communities there today.
- Quote:
“There are very few Jews who live there, but there is a big history and it's become a tourist issue… What you see is the legacy… of the expulsion, essentially.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [15:20]
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Mixed Feelings on Heritage and Memory:
- Both discuss the “bittersweet” nature of Spain profiting from Jewish history, but Stark-Nemon values preservation over erasure.
- Quote:
“Rather than having it totally wiped out, I’m glad that there’s at least the evidence there.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [16:52]
Embroidery as Secret Communication
- Women’s Clandestine Codes:
- The central character Isabella, a 14-year-old embroiderer, uses her craft to communicate secret messages—a tradition with real-world precedents, such as coded quilts on the Underground Railroad and Mary, Queen of Scots’ symbolic embroidery.
- Quote:
“There’s a really long history of women… using embroidery to signal various secretive things… This was a time when people were not generally literate. So these symbols were easier for people to understand and absorb.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [17:32]
Survival, Trade, and Community Leadership
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The Role of Jewish Textile Merchants:
- Isabella’s father’s business acumen allows him to foresee the impending danger of the Inquisition and arrange a move for his family to more tolerant Hamburg.
- Quote:
“Amsterdam, Hamburg, Venice, these were cities that were more tolerant of Jews settling… and being able to conduct business.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [19:29]
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Youthful Responsibility:
- David de Sousa, an 18-year-old community leader, shoulders major administrative and protective responsibilities after the death of his father, reflecting precocious coming-of-age under crisis.
- Quote:
“We think of a 14-year-old and 18-year-olds now, and it’s very different… [They] had a very wonderful father who was a leader… David was taking over from his father who passed away.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [20:28]
Thematic Choices: Chapter Epigraphs
- Literary Sourcing and Relevance:
- Stark-Nemon curated thematically resonant quotes to introduce each chapter—on “bravery, loyalty, faith, finding allies, facing trauma, resilience.”
- Quote:
“That was one of the most serious tasks that I felt like I had… They are quotes that inspired me, that made me think about my own life and about my concepts about bravery…” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [22:12]
What’s Next for Barbara Stark-Nemon?
- Future Projects and Possible Sequels:
- While early readers want a sequel to Isabela’s Way, Stark-Nemon is focusing on smaller projects first—including a unique cookbook based on personal stories behind recipes.
- Quote:
“I’ve already gotten requests even from early readers for a sequel. While I’m thinking about it, I’m not committed to it… One of [my projects] is a cookbook… tell me the story of each recipe in it.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [23:25]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Ancestral Connection:
“This 14-year-old embroideress just came kind of fully formed, jumped into my head. That was in 2011.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [03:31]
-
On Coded Textile Messages:
“There’s a really long history of women… using embroidery to signal various secretive things…” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [17:32]
-
On the Precarity for Conversos:
“The sense of instability, of never quite knowing where you were economically or politically or what your relationship was to the Church—that was part of what made that time so fraught.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [10:17]
-
On Heritage Preservation:
“Rather than having it totally wiped out, I’m glad that there’s at least the evidence there.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [16:52]
-
On Youth Leadership Through Crisis:
“We think of a 14-year-old and 18-year-olds now, and it’s very different… David was taking over from his father who passed away.” — Barbara Stark-Nemon [20:28]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [02:45] — How the idea for Isabela’s Way began
- [04:26] — Tracing family ancestry and its role in character creation
- [06:06] — Explaining the Edict of Expulsion, conversion, and origins of the Inquisition
- [10:37] — Evidence for networks helping Jews escape Portugal
- [14:36] — Jewish heritage sites in Girona and across Spain
- [17:06] — Using embroidery for secret communication
- [19:05] — Commerce, migration, and community survival under threat
- [22:12] — Selecting thematic epigraphs for each chapter
- [23:18] — Upcoming works and the possibility of sequels
Conclusion
This episode offers a rich tapestry of historical storytelling, personal ancestry, and the intricate ways art, identity, and history intersect. Barbara Stark-Nemon’s Isabela’s Way promises a nuanced exploration of cultural survival, young women’s resourcefulness, and the struggle for faith and belonging—rooted in both deep research and personal connection.