I Am the Clay

A Novel

By Chaim Potok | Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

About the book

“[Chaim] Potok writes powerfully about the suffering of innocent people caught in the cross-fire of a war they cannot begin to understand. . . . Humanity and compassion for his characters leap from every page.”—San Francisco Chronicle

As the Chinese and the army of the North sweep south during the Korean War, an old peasant farmer and his wife flee their village across the bleak, bombed-out landscape. They soon come upon a boy in a ditch who is wounded and unconscious. Stirred by possessiveness and caring the woman refuses to leave the boy behind. The man thinks she is crazy to nurse this boy, to risk their lives for some dying stranger. Angry and bewildered, he waits for the boy to die. And when the boy does not die, the old man begins to believe that the boy possesss a magic upon which all their lives depend. . . .

Editions of I Am the Clay

Hardcover
ISBN 9780517112571
Hardcover
ISBN 9780679411956
Paperback
ISBN 9780449221389
Paperback
ISBN 9780449001127
EBook
ISBN 9780307575531

Read an Excerpt

“[Chaim] Potok writes powerfully about the suffering of innocent people caught in the cross-fire of a war they cannot begin to understand. . . . Humanity and compassion for his characters leap from every page.”—San Francisco Chronicle

As the Chinese and the army of the North sweep south during the Korean War, an old peasant farmer and his wife flee their village across the bleak, bombed-out landscape. They soon come upon a boy in a ditch who is wounded and unconscious. Stirred by possessiveness and caring the woman refuses to leave the boy behind. The man thinks she is crazy to nurse this boy, to risk their lives for some dying stranger. Angry and bewildered, he waits for the boy to die. And when the boy does not die, the old man begins to believe that the boy possesss a magic upon which all their lives depend. . . .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is I Am the Clay about?

“[Chaim] Potok writes powerfully about the suffering of innocent people caught in the cross-fire of a war they cannot begin to understand. . . . Humanity and compassion for his characters leap from every page.”—San Francisco Chronicle

As the Chinese and the army of the North sweep south during the Korean War, an old peasant farmer and his wife flee their village across the bleak, bombed-out landscape. They soon come upon a boy in a ditch who is wounded and unconscious. Stirred by possessiveness and caring the woman refuses to leave the boy behind. The man thinks she is crazy to nurse this boy, to risk their lives for some dying stranger. Angry and bewildered, he waits for the boy to die. And when the boy does not die, the old man begins to believe that the boy possesss a magic upon which all their lives depend. . . .

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in I Am the Clay?

Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre

Where can I read a sample of I Am the Clay?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780517112571

Who is/are the Author/s of the book I Am the Clay?

Chaim Potok

Who is the Publisher of the book I Am the Clay?

Random House Publishing Group

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

I Am the Clay is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780517112571) and hardcover(ISBN 9780679411956) and paperback(ISBN 9780449221389) and paperback(ISBN 9780449001127) and ebook(ISBN 9780307575531)

Where can I buy I Am the Clay online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy I Am the Clay from below

Where can I buy I Am the Clay?