From Continuity to Contiguity: Toward a New Jewish Literary Thinking

by Dan Miron
From Continuity to Contiguity: Toward a New Jewish Literary Thinking cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Nonfiction
Buy online
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 7651
  • Added: 2025-12-16
  • Updated: 2025-12-16
  • ISBN: 9780804775021
  • Publisher: Stanford University Press
  • Published: 2010-07-19
  • Reviews: 3

Dan Miron, a renowned expert on modern Jewish literatures, critiques previous attempts to unify these literatures under a single continuum. He proposes a radical shift, acknowledging discontinuity as the defining feature of modern Jewish writing. This approach reveals a complex network of independent yet interconnected components, offering fresh insights into Hebrew, Yiddish, and other Jewish literatures. The book includes a new interpretation of Franz Kafka's work and discussions on key figures like Sholem Aleichem and Y. L. Peretz. /n/n Miron's work is not just a literary analysis but a methodological innovation, providing a new lens through which to view the diverse and multifaceted nature of modern Jewish literatures. By focusing on contiguity rather than continuity, he opens up new avenues for understanding the rich tapestry of these literary traditions.

Reviews
muse.jhu.edu · B Schreier · 2013-01-01
brilliant 3.50

The book is described as a failed yet brilliant work, with over five hundred pages of dense content that feels like a data dump. It is praised for its ambitious scope but criticized for its execution.

The reviewer acknowledges the book's ambitious scope and the brilliance of its ideas, but they also find it overwhelming and somewhat disjointed. The sheer volume of information can make it difficult to follow, and the reviewer suggests that the book might have benefited from a more focused approach. Despite these criticisms, the reviewer appreciates the book's contribution to the field of Jewish literary thinking and its potential to spark new discussions.

Quick quotes

    Miron's is a failed, brilliant book.

    On the one hand, at well over five hundred pages (with notes), it comes across as a data dump, perhaps, before anything.

    It is a truly outstanding work of literary criticism that will set up a new agenda for the discussion of Jewish literature.

scholars.uky.edu · Sheila Jelen · 2011-01-01
outstanding 4.50

The book is praised for its comprehensive analysis and its potential to redefine the study of Jewish literature. It is seen as a significant and groundbreaking work.

The reviewer commends the book for its thorough and insightful analysis of Jewish literature, noting its potential to redefine the field. They appreciate the book's depth and the new perspectives it offers, making it a valuable resource for scholars and readers interested in Jewish literature. The reviewer also highlights the book's well-supported arguments and its thought-provoking content, encouraging further exploration of the topics discussed.

Quick quotes

    This is a truly outstanding work of literary criticism that will set up a new agenda for the discussion of Jewish literature.

    The distillation of many years of research and reflection.

    The book breaks away from previous attempts to define a common denominator that unifies the various modern Jewish literatures.

forward.com · 2010-11-29
innovative 4.00

The book challenges the traditional model of continuity in Jewish literature and offers a new framework for understanding it. It is seen as a significant contribution to the field.

The reviewer highlights the book's innovative approach to Jewish literary thinking, particularly its rejection of the continuity model. They appreciate the book's depth and the new perspectives it offers, making it a valuable resource for scholars and readers interested in Jewish literature. The reviewer also notes that the book's arguments are well-supported and thought-provoking, encouraging further exploration of the topics discussed.

Quick quotes

    The book begins with the idea that 'continuity' is dead as a model for studying Jewish literature.

    Miron, the Leonard Kaye Chair of Hebrew Literature at Columbia University, is one of the most respected scholars in the field.

    The book offers a new framework for understanding Jewish literature that is both comprehensive and insightful.

Appears in Lists