Synopses & Reviews
Since World War II, Jewish-American novelists have significantly contributed to the world of literature. This reference book includes alphabetically arranged entries for more than 75 Jewish-American novelists whose major works were largely written after World War II. Included are entries for both well-known and relatively obscure novelists, many of whom are just becoming established as significant literary figures. While the volume profiles major canonical figures such as Saul Bellow, Norman Mailer, and Bernard Malamud, it also aims to be more inclusive than other works on contemporary Jewish-American writers. Thus there are entries for gay and lesbian novelists such as Lev Raphael and Judith Katz, whose works challenge the more orthodox definition of Jewish religious and cultural traditions; Art Speigelman, whose controversial ^IMaus^R established a new genre by combining elements of the comic book and the conventional novel; and newcomers such as Steve Stern and Max Apple, who have become more prominent within the last decade. Each entry includes a brief biography, a discussion of major works and themes, an overview of the novelist's critical reception, and a bibliography of primary and secondary sources. A thoughtful introduction summarizes Jewish-American fiction after World War II, and a selected, general bibliography lists additional sources of information.
Since World War II, Jewish-American novelists have made numerous significant contributions to contemporary literature. Authors of earlier generations would frequently write about the troubles and successes of Jewish immigrants to America, and their works would reflect the world of European Jewish culture. But like other immigrant groups, Jewish-Americans have become increasingly assimilated into mainstream American culture. Many feel the loss of their heritage and long for something to replace the lost values of the old world.
This reference book includes alphabetically arranged entries for more than 75 Jewish-American novelists whose major works were largely written after World War II. Included are entries for both well-known and relatively obscure novelists, many of whom are just becoming established as significant literary figures. While the volume profiles major canonical figures such as Saul Bellow, Norman Mailer, and Bernard Malamud, it also aims to be more inclusive than other works on contemporary Jewish-American writers. Thus there are entries for gay and lesbian novelists such as Lev Raphael and Judith Katz, whose works challenge the more orthodox definitions of Jewish religious and cultural traditions; Art Speigelman, whose controversial ^IMaus^R established a new genre by combining elements of the comic book and the conventional novel; and newcomers such as Steve Stern and Max Apple, who have become more prominent within the last decade. Each entry includes a brief biography, a discussion of major works and themes, an overview of the novelist's critical reception, and a bibliography of primary and secondary sources. A thoughtful introduction summarizes Jewish-American fiction after World War II, and a selected, general bibliography lists additional sources for information.
Review
Other than almost obsessively asking itself the question of ethnic identity, what, if anything, makes Jewish-American writing uniquely Jewish? Joel Shatzky and Michael Taub's stimulating sourcebook suggests an answer in the case of sixty-three contemporary writers, from Walter Abish to Herman Wouk.Association for Jewish Studies
Review
Each entry includes a biographical section, a cogent discussion of major works and themes, an overview of each novelist's critical reception, and a bibliography of both primary and secondary sources....Across the articles, the style is remarkably consistent--easy to read, informative, and interesting....Recommmended for academic and public libraries, especially where Jewish studies is a collection-development priority.Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin
Synopsis
Since World War II, Jewish-American novelists have significantly contributed to the world of literature. This reference book includes alphabetically arranged entries for more than 75 Jewish-American novelists whose major works were largely written after World War II. Included are entries for both well-known and relatively obscure novelists, many of whom are just becoming established as significant literary figures. While the volume profiles major canonical figures such as Saul Bellow, Norman Mailer, and Bernard Malamud, it also aims to be more inclusive than other works on contemporary Jewish-American writers. Thus there are entries for gay and lesbian novelists such as Lev Raphael and Judith Katz, whose works challenge the more orthodox definition of Jewish religious and cultural traditions; Art Speigelman, whose controversial ^IMaus' established a new genre by combining elements of the comic book and the conventional novel; and newcomers such as Steve Stern and Max Apple, who have become more prominent within the last decade. Each entry includes a brief biography, a discussion of major works and themes, an overview of the novelist's critical reception, and a bibliography of primary and secondary sources. A thoughtful introduction summarizes Jewish-American fiction after World War II, and a selected, general bibliography lists additional sources of information.
Since World War II, Jewish-American novelists have made numerous significant contributions to contemporary literature. Authors of earlier generations would frequently write about the troubles and successes of Jewish immigrants to America, and their works would reflect the world of European Jewish culture. But like other immigrant groups, Jewish-Americans have become increasingly assimilated into mainstream American culture. Many feel the loss of their heritage and long for something to replace the lost values of the old world.
This reference book includes alphabetically arranged entries for more than 75 Jewish-American novelists whose major works were largely written after World War II. Included are entries for both well-known and relatively obscure novelists, many of whom are just becoming established as significant literary figures. While the volume profiles major canonical figures such as Saul Bellow, Norman Mailer, and Bernard Malamud, it also aims to be more inclusive than other works on contemporary Jewish-American writers. Thus there are entries for gay and lesbian novelists such as Lev Raphael and Judith Katz, whose works challenge the more orthodox definitions of Jewish religious and cultural traditions; Art Speigelman, whose controversial ^IMaus' established a new genre by combining elements of the comic book and the conventional novel; and newcomers such as Steve Stern and Max Apple, who have become more prominent within the last decade. Each entry includes a brief biography, a discussion of major works and themes, an overview of the novelist's critical reception, and a bibliography of primary and secondary sources. A thoughtful introduction summarizes Jewish-American fiction after World War II, and a selected, general bibliography lists additional sources for information.
About the Author
JOEL SHATZKY is Professor of English at the State University of New York College at Cortland, where he has taught since 1968.MICHAEL TAUB is Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion at Vassar College.
Table of Contents
Foreword by Daniel Walden
Preface by Joel Shatzky and Michael Taub
Introduction by Sanford Marovitz
Walter Abish
Max Apple
Paul Auster
Johnathan Baumbach
Saul Bellow
Melvin Bukiet
Arthur Allen Cohen
E.L. Doctorow
Stanley Elkin
Richard Elman
Leslie Epstein
Irvin Faust
Bruce Jay Friedman
Sanford Friedman
Thomas Friedman
Daniel Fuchs
Merrill Joan Gerber
Herbert Gold
Gloria Goldreich
Paul Goodman
Gerald Green
Joseph Heller
Carololivia Herron
Mark Helprin
Laura Z. Hobson
Julius Lester
Meyer Levin
Phillip Lopate
Bernard Malamud
Norman Mailer
Wallace Markfield
Daphne Merkin
Faye Stollman Moskowitz
Jay Neugeboren
Hugh Nissenson
Tillie Olsen
Cynthia Ozick
Grace Paley
Marge Piercy
Chaim Potok
Lev Raphael
Tovah Reich
Mordecai Richler
Lucy (Gabrielle) Rosenthal
Henry Roth
Philip Roth
Budd Schulberg
Alix Kates Shulman
Roberta Silman
Jo Sinclair
David Slavitt
Susan Sontag
Art Speigelman
Gertrude Stein
Steve Stern
Barry Targan
Meredith Tax
Lionel Trilling
Leon Uris
Edward Lewis Wallant
Jerome Weidman
Herman Wouk
Appendix
Bibliography
Index