In writing this biography of Theodor Herzl, Chouraqui has filled a vital need: he shows Herzl the visionary in the context of turn-of-the-century Europe. The book, presented in novel form, is largely based on historical sources. The result is a compassionate, human account of how the idea of a Jewish state was born, and of Herzl's struggle to make his dream become reality.

Andre Chouraqui is an Israeli public figure and author whose works have been translated into several languages. He served as personal adviser to Prime Minister David Ben Gurion and was deputy mayor of Jerusalem from 1965 to 1969.