Super Short Summary

The Fixer by Bernard Malamud follows Yakov Bok, a Jewish handyman in Kiev who is wrongfully accused of murdering a Christian boy in 1911. As a prisoner without formal charges, Bok endures harsh interrogations and abuse, reflecting on his life and the pervasive anti-Semitism in Russian society. Despite personal and systemic struggles, the trial finally proceeds after two years, highlighting wrongful scapegoating and political corruption. The book addresses themes of religious discrimination, unjust imprisonment, and systemic oppression.