The Four Questions

Summary of Book

Every year when families gather for the Passover holiday, the youngest child poses that question as part of the poetic Four Questions near the start of the Seder. The answers are no less than the story of a people bound in slavery, their suffering in a foreign land, and their ultimate liberation – the story of Passover.

Author Biography

Lynne Sharon Schwartz is a celebrated author of novels, poems, short fiction, and criticism. Schwartz began her career with a series of short stories before publishing her first novel, the National Book Award-nominated Rough Strife (1980). She went on to publish works of memoir, poetry, and translation. Her other novels have included the award-nominated Leaving Brooklyn (1989) and Disturbances in the Field (1983). Her short fiction has appeared in the Best American Short Stories annual anthology series several times. In addition, her reviews and criticism have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers. Schwartz lives in New York City, and is currently a faculty member of the Bennington Writing Seminars.

Illustrator Biography

Ori Sherman was born in Jerusalem and emigrated with his family to New York when he was three years old. He began his art studies at the High School of Music and Art and went on to a degree in fine arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. After moving to California, Mr. Sherman also earned a masters degree in English from San Francisco State University. He was an exhibiting fine artist in a variety of media--paper, wood, fabric, and metal, but went on to concentrate on the art of illustrating picture books later in his life. Mr. Sherman passed away in 1988.