
The German-Jewish Dialogue offers a unique selection of short stories, plays, poems, essays, letters, and diary entries that illustrates through literature the history of German-Jewish relations. From the eighteenth century, when civil rights for Jews were first proposed, through the 1990s and contemporary considerations of the Holocaust, this anthology sheds light on the interaction between Jews in Germany and Austria and their fellow Gentile Germans with works of high literary merit, each introduced with a short preface. Ritche Robertson's lucid introduction puts the selections in their historical context and his translations make available in English--in some cases for the first time--both Jewish writers on various aspects of Jewish experience and responses of Gentile writers to the Jews in their midst.
This anthology investigates the complex, evolving nature of German-Jewish relations through the lens of literary expression from the Enlightenment to the late twentieth century. Ritchie Robertson, a scholar of German literature and culture, curates a diverse collection of primary texts to illustrate the shifting social, political, and cultural dynamics between Jewish and Gentile populations in Germany and Austria. By providing historical context for each selection, the author argues that literature serves as a critical archive for understanding the integration, alienation, and eventual trauma defining this historical dialogue.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and students of European history frequently cite this anthology as a vital resource for accessing primary source perspectives on the German-Jewish experience. The text is noted for its balanced selection and the clarity of Robertson's editorial introductions, making it a standard reference for academic study.
Page Count:
432
Publication Date:
1999-09-23
ISBN-10:
0192839101
ISBN-13:
9780192839107
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