Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

Encyclopedia of Jewish-American Literature, edited by Gloria L. Cronin and Alan L. Berger. 391p. New York: Facts On File, 2009. 978-0-8160-6085-6; 2008-7872. $75.

Considering the likes of Saul Bellow, E.L. Doctorow, Allen Ginsberg, Lillian Hellman, Norman Mailer, Arthur Miller, Dorothy Parker, Philip Roth, J.D. Salinger, Susan Sontag and Gertrude Stein, there can be no question that Jewish literature has flourished in the United States. From Woody Allen and Isaac Asimov to Michael Chabon and Art Spiegelman, many Jewish-American writers have enjoyed a high profile in American culture while commanding international audiences. This guide to an incredibly influential ethnic literature surveys the works of more than a hundred Jewish-American writers. The volume begins with an overview of the development of literature in the immigrant Jewish communities of the United States. Approximately 100 entries examine the careers of the most influential Jewish literary figures in this country. With the exception of Rebecca Gratz, Mordecai Noah and Emma Lazarus, all were active during the twentieth century. Some additional authors are covered in summaries of 116 significant novels, plays, poems and short stories. Each entry includes a brief bibliography of secondary criticism and an appendix lists the major works of the featured writers. The index references individuals, titles and literary themes. The sum is a useful reader’s guide that will serve interested audiences in academic, public and high school libraries.