The Prairie Schooner Anthology of Contemporary Jewish American WritingHilda Raz U of Nebraska Press, 1998 M01 1 - 293 pages Bringing together a wide selection of contemporary poets, essayists, and fiction writers, this vivid collection demonstrates the continuing vitality of Jewish American writing. Featured are well-known Jewish American writers alongside fresh, emerging talents. There are new stories by (among others) Rebecca Goldstein and Faye Moskowitz and essays by Michael Blumenthal, Irena Klepfisz, Robin Becker, and Sanford Pinsker. Perhaps most striking is the impressive array of poets, from Ruth Behar to Mark Rudman to Eleanor Wilner. All provide tangible support for Sanford Pinsker's wry observation that "the demise of Jewish-American writing has been much exaggerated." A collection that embraces tradition and innovation, and that is as diverse as it is consistently stimulating, this anthology will be required reading for enthusiasts of contemporary American literature. Hilda Raz is the editor of Prairie Schooner and an associate professor in the Department of English at the University of Nebraska. She is the author of several books of poems, including The Bone Dish, What Is Good, and Divine Honors. |
Contents
Hilda Raz Introduction | 3 |
Marilyn Hacker Squares and Courtyards poem | 13 |
Wallace Stevens story | 31 |
Norman Y Harris Five poems | 51 |
Marcia Pelletiere Two poems | 62 |
Faye Moskowitz Peace in the House story | 93 |
Barbara Helfgott Hyett Two poems | 105 |
Ann Z Leventhal Two poems | 153 |
Robin Becker | 210 |
Judith Skillman | 224 |
Janet Sternburg | 230 |
Rodger Kamenetz | 236 |
Eileen Pollack | 244 |
Robin Hemley Jinx essay | 260 |
Sanford Pinsker Dares DoubleDares | 278 |
Eleanor Wilner The Pillar poem | 286 |
Common terms and phrases
Abrams Alicia Ostriker American American Jews Arthur Aunt barszcz Bintel Brief blue bobe borscht called dead death door double-daring dump Elvis eyes face father feel Fefers Feyvush Feyvush and Gitl fingers friends girl glass grandmother Grossman hair hand Holocaust Hong Kong flu I. M. Feigenbaum Jewish Jewish-American Jewish-American writers Jews Karaites kitchen knew Köszeg lived look Majdanek Mama Lo's Marilyn Hacker Marjorie Mary Louise Meryl Michael Blumenthal moon mother mouth never night nose once parents Pearl poems poet poetry prayer Rabbi Rebecca Goldstein remember rose Saul Bellow shame shofar sister Slippery Rock smell someone soup story street talk tell things thought told took tree turned voice walked watch watercarrier wife window woman women words write Yentl Yiddish