I’m delighted to welcome author Itay Koh to What Cathy Read Next today to chat about his historical novel Ernest and Samuel which was published on 13th October 2025. Itay describes Ernest and Samuel as ‘both a timeless adventure and a meditation on faith, friendship, and the enduring power of story’.
Ernest and Samuel is available to purchase in paperback from Amazon or for readers in the US from Bookshop.org. The book is also available in Hebrew.
Drawings of all the characters appear at the end of the book.
About the Book
At the dawn of the twentieth century, two men set out across the Holy Land. From Haifa’s bustling port to the sacred stones of Jerusalem, Ernest and Samuel encounter rabbis, priests, Bedouins, and travelers – each voice drawn from real history.
What makes this novel unique is the way it fuses true events, places, and cultures with the intimacy of storytelling. The result is more than a novel: it is a vivid travel experience, carrying readers into the deserts, rivers, and cities of Ottoman Palestine as if they were walking there themselves.
Rich in detail yet full of heart, Ernest and Samuel will appeal to lovers of history, travel, and literature alike.
Find Ernest and Samuel on Goodreads
Q&A with Itay Koh, author of Ernest and Samuel
What was your motivation for embarking on the novel?
I’ve always written, mainly to my wife and daughters. Back in the day I found an outstanding manager for my businesses and suddenly I had time and began working on the book. I thought it would be fast but it took me five years to complete!
Can you give us a brief description of the novel’s two main characters, Ernest and Samuel?
Ernest Way is a British scholar, curious, sharp-minded and rather proud of his ability to read people. He has come to the Holy Land for an archaeological expedition, though there is more to his journey than he initially admits. He serves as the book’s narrator.
Samuel J. Horn is a wealthy Jewish American, an experienced traveller with a commanding presence, a generous spirit and a private sadness that he rarely shows.
How do the two men meet?
At a railway station, Ernest notices Samuel in a heated argument with a young woman. He cannot understand why the scene affects him so much. Later, while Ernest is waiting for the border inspection, Samuel approaches and asks to sit beside him. A conversation begins, and two strangers who might never otherwise have met find they have rather a
lot to say to one another.
How did you go about your research for the book?
I love history and reading. The research was the most interesting and challenging part. I used countless accounts from historians, universities and archives. My knowledge of the area helped as I spent most of my childhood there. I’m proud to say the research and the writing was done before AI and is genuinely my own work.
Were there any parts of the book that were particularly challenging to write. If so, why?
Oh yes, there were many challenges but the main one was Jerusalem. The amount of sites, history and events are overwhelming and I literally had to go through a process of deduction and focus to get it right.
What was your favourite and least favourite part of the writing process?
To put yourself through such an immense effort, to stay true to yourself and to the facts was a long and rewarding journey. The part I haven’t enjoyed was editing but I also learned a lot from this and I believe being meticulous about this process polished the book.
If you had to sum up Ernest and Samuel in three words, what would they be?
A unique journey.
About the Author
Itay Koh is an Israeli-Hungarian author and entrepreneur based in Amsterdam. The author of Ernest and Samuel, he has a lifelong interest in history and enjoys travelling and surfing. He lives with his wife and their four daughters.
Connect with Itay
Goodreads
