Jacob’s Woes

Set against the religious and political turmoil of 17th-century Europe, Jacob’s Woes (self-published) is a richly detailed, historical novel following a young man named Joggli (Jacob). After returning home from a disastrous military campaign, Jacob faces condemnation from both his family and the Reformed Church in Zurich for his new religious convictions as he embraces the Anabaptist faith. Drawing on themes of faith, persecution, and perseverance, Gochenour crafts a story of Jacob’s imprisonment, the separation of his family, and his eventual exile from Switzerland as he leads a community of fellow believers to Alsace. There, they seek to rebuild their lives amid the devastating aftermath of war and exclusion.