Masterpieces of Jewish American Literature

Sanford Sternlicht

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Year: 2007
• Print ISBN: 9780313338571
• eBook ISBN: 9780313082320
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: North American Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

Jewish Americans have produced some of the most imaginative, provocative, and widely read literary works of the twentieth century. This book gives students and general readers an introduction to ten of the most significant works of Jewish American literarure. An introductory chapter discusses the historical, cultural, social, and political backgrounds of Jewish American literature. This is followed by chapters on ten major works by Abraham Cahan, Anzia Yezierska, Michael Gold, Henry Roth, Meyer Levin, Saul Bellow, Bernard Malamud, Chiam Potok, Philip Roth, and Cynthia Ozick. Each chapter provides a biography, a plot summary, a discussion of character development, an analysis of themes, an examination of narrative style, an exploration of historical context, and suggestions for further reading. The volume closes with a selected, general bibliography. These works reflect the hopes and dreams of Jewish Americans, as well as their challenges and troubles. These works help students understand the cultural and historical events central to Jewish Americans in the twentieth century. This book gives students and general readers an introduction to ten masterpieces of Jewish American literature.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Backgrounds
• 1 Abraham Cahan, The Rise of David Levinsky (1917)
• 2 Anzia Yezierska, Bread Givers (1925)
• 3 Michael Gold, Jews Without Money (1930)
• 4 Henry Roth, Call It Sleep (1934)
• 5 Meyer Levin, The Old Bunch (1937)
• 6 Saul Bellow, The Adventures of Augie March (1953)
• 7 Bernard Malamud, The Assistant (1957)
• 8 Chaim Potok, The Chosen (1967)
• 9 Philip Roth, Portnoy’s Complaint (1969)
• 10 Cynthia Ozick, The Messiah of Stockholm (1987)
• Selected Bibliography
• Index