WHO’S HOTTER THAN SPINOZA?

This morning’s New York Times carries a review of David Ives’ play, “New Jerusalem: the Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza at Talmud Torah Congregation, Amsterdam, July 27 1656,” capping a veritable trifecta of publicity for the 17^th Century Philosopher who was excommunicated by Amsterdam’s Jewish community (interestingly, his grandparents were conversos who fled the Spanish inquisition, and were expelled from France. It was only his father Miguel who returned to the Jewish faith upon arriving in Amsterdam).

First there was Matthew Stewart’s well reviewed tome, “The Courtier and the Heretic” (Norton); then Rebecca Goldstein’s “Betraying Spinoza” from Nextbook/Schocken –where it’s been one of their best selling titles. And now (off) Broadway!

What next: Spinoza, the musical? Or “Search for Substance: the Bento Spinoza story” ?