Professor of English Elizabeth Graver’s critically acclaimed novel, Kantika, is winner of a National Jewish Book Award in the category of Sephardic Culture. Kantika was inspired by Graver’s grandmother, who was born into a Sephardic Jewish family in Istanbul and whose life journey took her to Spain, Cuba, and New York. The novel was also named a best book of the year by National Public Radio, Lilith Magazine, and Libby. The New York Times listed it as one of the 10 Best Historical Fiction novels and 100 Notable Books of 2023. Next month, Graver will receive the Edward Lewis Wallant Award, presented to a writer whose published work of fiction is deemed to have significance to American Jewish history and culture. Read more in BC News.