Literature: Modern American Jewish Fiction

This course, led by Abbie Saunders, provides an overview of American Jewish fiction since 1945, exploring how cultural, political, and socioeconomic factors have shaped Jewish identity in modern novels. Focusing on the works of Philip Roth and Michael Chabon, we will analyse how these authors reflect key themes in post-war Jewish-American life, including immigration, assimilation, and the legacy of the Holocaust.

Through the lens of their fiction, we will explore the complexities of Jewish identity, the tension between tradition and modernity, and the challenges of maintaining cultural heritage in a multicultural society. Roth and Chabon’s characters wrestle with the realities of assimilation, the impact of historical trauma, and their evolving place within American society. The course will also examine how humour, irony, and historical context shape their narratives.

By studying these seminal authors, the course offers a deeper understanding of the Jewish-American experience in the 20th and 21st centuries. We will consider how their works capture broader cultural shifts and contribute to the ongoing conversation about identity, belonging, and the place of Jewish-Americans in contemporary literature. This examination will provide valuable insights into how literature reflects societal change and the complexities of cultural identity.