Synopsis
David Bendiger, a penniless, aspiring young writer, arrives in Warsaw in 1922, and he explores his romantic passions, his religious past, and his literary future. Reprint. PW. NYT. 20,000 first printing.
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About the Author
Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904–91) was the author of many novels, stories, and children's books. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1978.
From Publishers Weekly
A bittersweet posthumous finale to a distinguished career, this novel by the 1976 Nobel laureate returns one last time to the now-vanished universe of Polish Jewry between the world wars. Its narrator, David Bendiger, is a would-be writer, "at eighteen and a half . . . no longer a day student" but still a dreamer, "digging away at eternal questions" and trying to survive on his own in 1920s Warsaw. Offered the opportunity of a certificate that will permit him to emigrate to Palestine, he vacillates among three women--Sonya, a simple working girl; Edusha, a sexually active young Communist; and Minna, a daughter of the once-rich bourgeoisie--unable to decide whom he should choose. At the same time, he is pummeled by the movements that have shaped Jewish life in this century--communism, Zionism and the Jewish Enlightenment--while he tries to reconcile himself to the distance he has come from his Orthodox upbringing. Singer tells David's story with cool detachment, allowing the young man's mix of self-importance and self-doubt to give his narration a fine, ironic edge. As events swirl around David, plunging him into a whirlpool of lost loves and family tensions, he grows before our eyes, maturing into a wounded but wise adult, one who comes to realize the futility of his struggles. Although written early in the author's career, this novel languished untranslated until now. It proves to be vintage Singer, a welcome addition to his oeuvre.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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The Certificate
Seller: Wonder Book, Frederick, MD, U.S.A.
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Condition: Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Seller Inventory # T09O-01177
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ISBN 10: 0452270928
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Seller: Library House Internet Sales, Grand Rapids, OH, U.S.A.
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Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. David Bendiner, a young writer and secularized Jew, has qualified to emigrate from Warsaw to Palestine, but he's broke, and in order to make the journey, he must enter into a fictitious marriage with a prosperous woman eager to get there. Grappling with romantic, political and philosophical turmoil, David must also confront his faith when his father, an Orthodox rabbi, shows up in Warsaw. Solid binding. Please note the image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item. Book. Seller Inventory # 123569986
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New York Farrar Straus Giroux 1992., 1992
ISBN 10: 0452270928
ISBN 13: 9780452270923
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Softcover. Condition: Très bon. Ammareal reverse jusqu'à 15% du prix net de cet article à des organisations caritatives. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION Book Condition: Used, Very good. Ammareal gives back up to 15% of this item's net price to charity organizations. Seller Inventory # G-470-713