In tracing a tradition of Jewish writing in Vienna from the fin de siecle to the present, Herzog's book forms an important contribution to our understanding of Austrian literature and culture of the twentieth century. By focusing her analyses on the ways in which these writers conceptualized their identities as Jews, Herzog illuminates the complicated, yet continually changing relationships between ... Read moreJewish writers and the city of Vienna.
H-Judaic - meticulously researched and clearly presented - Each chapter begins with a brief, well-informed overview of the period and the experiences of Jews in Austria during that time - This informative work successfully probes the engagement of an impressive range of writers with both their own self-identifications and Vienna. Sensitive and nuanced, it will serve scholars and others as the go-to guide for exploring issues of Jewishness in Austrian literature.
Habsburg, H-Net Reviews This thoroughly researched, lucid book offers a broad, insightful discussion of a complex subject. Steven is Herzog's immediate scholarly predecessor, yet Herzog goes beyond the excellent work of her predecessors - Her choices of the writings to discuss are thoughtful and sometimes unexpected - Posing challenging questions while keeping the city always in view, Herzog concludes that though this rich tapestry of artists and viewpoints is irreducible, there are similarities and verities to reveal. This is the book's unique contribution. Highly recommended.
Choice [A]n impressive account of the origins and development of what is now a tradition of Jewish writers in Vienna. The author does a very good job of presenting the very large subject she has taken on and of putting the turn-of-the-century writers within a chronological context that brings out how a 'tradition' of Jewish writers in Vienna has developed over the last century - This is an impressive contribution, with a welcome approach.
Steven Beller, Washington D.C. [A]n important, extremely well constructed and original inquiry and a major contribution to scholarship on Jewish writing and its authors' literary reactions to the Austrian capital... In a systematic approach and within the proper historical context Herzog uncovers the panorama of Jewish-Austrian writing with Vienna as its focus - Comprehensive and thorough, it conveys a wealth of information on individual authors, their time, and the changing cultural environment.
Dagmar C. G. Lorenz, University of Illinois at Chicago Show Less