Reading Jonathan Levi’s new novel, “Septimania,” is like dancing on a moving stage; it’s exhilarating, even as you worry that your feet might fly out from under you. Its story careens from one century ...

Septimania is saturated with extraordinary characters, incidents, and narratives. Jonathan Levi, his sails boosted by enviable erudition, navigates his metaphysical sea with commendable dexterity, ...