Holocaust Literature: A Handbook of Critical, Historical, and Literary Writings - Hardcover

Friedman, Saul S.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0313262217 ISBN 13: 9780313262210

Publisher: Greenwood, 1993

Synopsis

Over the past forty years, the term Holocaust has come to represent the deliberate campaign of extermination of Jews by the Nazis of Germany's Third Reich preceding and during World War II. Masses of edited documents and analytical material have been generated by Holocaust scholars, and some bibliographical and encyclopedic guides to the field are available. However, a student or researcher may be confounded by the abundance of publications and may lack the necessary background and endurance to sift the wheat from the chaff. The present volume has a two-fold purpose: to offer substantial analysis in intrinsic areas of study and to assess the relevant literature in each case.

Major scholars and brilliant, less established historians from Israel, Canada, and the United States have contributed more than thirty essays complete with extensive reference lists in three broad divisions. The section on conceptual approaches to the Holocaust is composed of such topics as the rise of national socialism, biographies and interpretations of Hitler, concentration camps, post-Holocaust Jewish philosophies, and the righteous gentiles. Area studies deal with aspects of the Holocaust in Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, the Balkans, France, Holland, Italy, and Spain, and with effects and reactions in Switzerland and Britain. Arab-German collaboration and American responses are also addressed. A third section takes up Holocaust subjects in education, belles lettres, and the arts, including diaries and memoirs, fiction, poetry, books for children, art, music, and films. Although the scholars all provide evaluative surveys of their subjects and related literature, each enjoyed considerable latitude in coverage and each presents his or her own views and selections, not all of which are shared by other contributors or the volume editor. The editor also provides an introduction and a final survey of major institutions and resources for Holocaust study. A significant reference tool, this volume will be consulted by researchers at all levels in university, public, secondary, and parochial school libraries and at religious institutions.

About this title

About the Author

SAUL S. FRIEDMAN is Professor of History at Youngstown State University, where he specializes in ancient and modern Middle Eastern studies, Jewish history, and the Holocaust. His books include No Haven for the Oppressed, Incident at Massena, Amcha: An Oral Testament of the Holocaust, Oberammergau Passion Play, Without Future: The Plight of Syrian Jewry (Praeger, 1989), and The Terezin Diary of Gonda Redlich (1992). He has also published numerous essays and book chapters and reviews in such journals as Midstream, Jewish Frontier, American Historical Review, National Review, Jewish Spectator, Chronicle Review, and Congress Monthly.

Reviews

The goal of this book is to help readers gain an understanding of the Holocaust and also to assess the relevant literature. Several dozen Holocaust scholars and historians, many of whom have written works discussed in the text, contributed the signed essays. Information about the expertise of each contributor is appended.

The book is divided into three major sections: "Conceptual Approaches" (e.g., "The Church and the Holocaust," "Jewish Women in the Holocaust Resistance"), "Holocaust Area Studies" focusing on particular countries, and "The Holocaust in the Arts" ("The Poetry of the Holocaust," "Music of the Holocaust," etc.). Each chapter has an essay offering historical information on the topic and then discussing recommended books. Each chapter closes with a bibliography. The editor has supplemented some chapters with a list of additional readings on the subject. Because each chapter is written by a different person, style and depth of coverage vary. Some chapters focus on the bibliographic aspect of the topic more than others. Several chapters contain personal narratives. The book concludes with author and subject indexes.

There are more comprehensive bibliographies on the Holocaust, such as the Edelheit's Bibliography on Holocaust Literature. The Encyclopedia of the Holocaust [RBB Mr 1 90] has essays on most of the topics covered here and contains suggestions for further reading. Libraries owning those titles may want to pass on this one. However, libraries needing a one-volume overview of the topic may want to consider Holocaust Literature.

Edition details

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0313262217
• ISBN 13: 9780313262210
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 712