Maimonides

Scholar, philosopher, doctor, astronomer, poet: Maimonides apparently mastered many disciplines during his lifetime. I say “apparently” because, as well researched as Joel L. Kramer’s new biography obviously is, something seems to be lacking. He spends much more time on “the world” aspect and less on “the life.” Despite the depth of Kraemer’s epic, he acknowledges, “where there are gaps in Maimonides’ life, they are often filled with legend and surmise so that his life is surrounded by myth.” Indeed, no sooner does the author mention his birth than he expounds on Cordoba and the surrounding regions, Andalusian Jewish culture and the educational methods of the day. There are gaps in the biographical data that he seeks to fill, with mixed results. Much of Maimonides’s world is fascinating, as Kramer explains the day-to-day routines, the political and royal machinations, the exultations and hazards of long-distance travel.