The Lines We Draw: The Journalist, the Jew and an Argument About Identity

A memoir blending personal family history and journalism — tracing Jewish lineage from 17th-century Portugal through to modern times.

In this deeply empathetic memoir, Tim?Franks — known as a long-time correspondent for the BBC — embarks on a search for his Jewish roots. Through generations of ancestors scattered across Lisbon, Amsterdam, Constantinople, the Caribbean, Auschwitz, Lithuania, and even the corridors of power in Downing Street, he uncovers a rich tapestry of stories: risk-taking rabbis, refugees, artists, soldiers, revolutionaries, and political figures like Benjamin Disraeli. By weaving his journalistic insight with personal family history, Franks explores what it means to be Jewish, to remember, and to report — examining the lines drawn around identity, belonging, faith, and memory.

“What makes this brilliant, considered book worthwhile is not its breadth but how thoughtful it is.” — Financial Times

“The book is stunning. He is an extraordinary writer. Such erudition. Wisdom. Humanity. And humour.” — Fergal Keane, BBC News