Inventing the Israelite Jewish Fiction in Nineteenth-Century France [Hardcover]

In this book, Maurice Samuels brings to light little known works of literature produced from 1830 to 1870 by the first generation of Jews born as French citizens. These writers, Samuels asserts, used fiction as a laboratory to experiment with new forms of Jewish identity relevant to the modern world. In their stories and novels, they responded to the stereotypical depictions of Jews in French culture while creatively adapting the forms and genres of the French literary tradition. They also offered innovative solutions to the central dilemmas of Jewish modernity in the French contextincluding how to reconcile their identities as Jews with the universalizing demands of the French revolutionary tradition. While their solutions ranged from complete assimilation to a modern brand of orthodoxy, these writers collectively illustrate the creativity of a community in the face of unprecedented upheaval.

Samuels's illuminating new book embarks on an innovative project to inscribe nineteenth-century French Jewish fiction within the context of modern literary history . . .Inventing the Israeliteencompasses a significant contribution to Jewish studies and French literary history. Additionally, Samuels's easy flowing prose and inviting style make for an enjoyable read. Sayeeda H. Mamoon,French Review

Sur un corpus consid?rable et peu connu,Inventing the Israelite?clair avec une grande subtilit? la situation des juifs fran?ais avant l'affaire Dreyfus ? partir d'oeuvres de fiction envisag?es pour le travail culturel qu'ells accomplissent. Judith Lyon-Caen,Revue d'Histoire du XIXe si?cle

Samuels's book opens a new area of research by introducing readers to largely unknown authors and texts. Scholars as well as nonacademic readers interested in the history of the Jews in France are indebted to him for his painstaking archival work and for his astute interpretations, presented in an engaging and eminently readable style. Micl“.