The Abduction | The Abduction

At a glance:

Author: Maxine Winokur
First Published: 1971
Type of Work: Novel
Type of Plot: Psychological realism
Time of Work: The 1960’s
Setting: The northeastern United States
Principal Characters: Lucy Starr, Theodore, Berndt Hoffmann, Aunt Alberta, Dan Gibbs, Mrs. Poston, Cindy
Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction, Character study
Subjects: African Americans, Civil rights, 1960’s, Self-discovery, United States or Americans, Self, Guilt, Poverty or poor people, Feminism, Women’s issues, Jews or Jewish life, Liberalism, Kidnapping, Women’s movement, Boys
Locales: Northeast (U.S.)

Form and Content

The Abduction, poet Maxine Kumin’s most significant excursion into the novel, is a taut and compelling work which skillfully traverses public and private themes. It insightfully explores the social tensions between Jews, Europeans, and African Americans in the 1960’s, as well as the more perennial antagonisms between men and women. The novel revolves around the emotional experience of its chief character, Lucy Starr.

When Lucy, an assured, well-connected woman of early middle age, abducts the poor African American boy Theodore, it seems a very...

The Abduction | The Abduction

At a glance:

Form and Content

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