After The Tradition: Essays On Modern Jewish Writing

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� - - -- - --- - -- - -� - ROBERTALTE ESSAYS ON MODER JEWISH WRITING The themes of 1 ewish identity and the paradox of survival are brilliantly illumi­ nated in these fifteen essays by Robert Alter, a young teacher-scholar-critic. When some of the pieces first appeared in Commentary, they so moved Edmund Wilson that he telephoned the magazine's editor to remark on their excellence. Of central concern in these essays is not only the question of 1 ewish identity, but also the meaning of tradition in 1 ewish litera­ ture since the Holocaust. After laying to rest false "literary 1 ewishness," Mr. A.lter . uses investigations of the works of such writers as Elie �'iesel, Saul Bellow, S. Y. Agnon and Bernard lVIalamud to locate some of the most profound continuing themes of the 1 ewish mind and imagina­ tion as revealed in the work of these con· temporary American and Israeli authors. (con tin uf'd on bark flap } 0169 continued from front flap) He is especially interested in discovering how differently American novelists and poets and those in Israel view the conse­ quences of the Holocaust. But while pre­ senting the primary themes and issues of contemporary Jewish literature Mr. Alter always keeps in mind their connections with universal concerns. Thus he deals not only with the problems of Jewish survival, but also with the paradox of human survival. Whether Mr. AI ter is discussing Jewish dreams and nightmares, the Israeli novel, the emergence of Israeli poetry, Hebrew literature, or the influence of "the false Messiah," he never fails to bring great imagination and an unconventional ap­ proach to his subjects. A bout the author Robert Alter is Associate Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of Rogue's Progress: Studies in the Pica­ resque Novel and Fielding and the Nature of the Novel (both Harvard University Press books). He writes on a variety of literary and cultural subjects for Corn­ mentary and other national magazines. Jacket design by Allan Peckoliclc A00275 AFTER THE TRADITION ESSAYS ON MODERN JEWISH WRITING by Robert Alter E. P. DUTTON & CO., INC. NEW YORK 1 9 69 Copyright © 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1962, 1961 by Robert Alter. I All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. I No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper or broadcast. I Published simultaneously in Canada by Clarke, Irwin & Company Limited, Toronto and Vancouver I Library of Congress catalog card number: 69-12601 I First Edition. These essays were published in slightly different form in a variety of periodicals, to whose editors grateful acknowledgment is made: Book \Veek: Review of The Gates of the Forest by Elie \Viesel. (l'viay 29, 1966). Reprinted by permission of Book \Vorld. Commentary: "The Genius of S. Y. Agnon" (August, 1961); "Israeli \Vriters and Their Problems" (July, 1962); "Sentimentalizing the Jews" (Septem­ ber, 1965); "Poetry in Israel" (December, 1965); "Confronting the Holo­ caust: Three Israeli Novels" ( rviarch, 1966); "The Apocalyptic Temper'' (June, 1966); "1\!Ialamud as Jewish \Vriter" (September, 1966); "Sabbatai Zevi and the Jewish Imagination" (June, 1967); "Jewish Dreams and Night­ mares" (January, 1968); "Hebrew Between Two \Vorlds"