Arthur A(llen) Cohen Criticism
Arthur A. Cohen, an influential American novelist, critic, and theologian, is recognized for his exploration of Jewish identity within a secular context. His works, deeply embedded in Jewish theology, urge a return to devout practices, moving away from materialism. Cohen's literature seeks to reconcile traditional Judaic values with modern existential challenges, as seen in his theological writings, such as The Natural and Supernatural Jew (1963).
Cohen's debut novel, The Carpenter Years (1967), examines the complex interplay of Jewish identity and assimilation. The narrative follows a Jewish man who abandons his heritage for a Protestant lifestyle, only to confront his past and family. This theme of identity struggle, however, has been critiqued for being didactic and unrealistic, as noted by Edgar Morrison's Choice and others.
His subsequent novel, In the Days of Simon Stern (1973), delves into post-Holocaust themes, praised for its intellectual depth in exploring belief and survival. A Hero in His Time (1975) further investigates the intersection of politics and art through the story of a Soviet Jewish poet in America, balancing humor and serious inquiry.
Cohen's Acts of Theft (1979) shifts focus from overtly Jewish themes to the nature of art and creativity. It explores the moral implications of artistic creativity as a form of theft, an idea commended by critics for its insight, despite criticism concerning character development, as explored by John Leonard and Mark Shechner.
In An Admirable Woman (1983), Cohen narrates the experiences of a Jewish scholar escaping Nazi Germany, inspired by the intellectual legacy of Hannah Arendt. Despite its ambitious exploration of fame and ethics, critics such as Anatole Broyard and Earl Shorris argue that it lacks the dynamic complexity befitting its real-life inspirations.
Contents
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Cohen, Arthur A(llen) (Vol. 31)
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Edgar Morrison's Choice
(summary)
In the following essay, Richard M. Elman critiques Arthur Cohen's novel "The Carpenter Years," arguing that Cohen's portrayal of the protagonist's abandonment of his Jewish identity for Christianity is marred by moral superficiality, pretentiousness, and a disdain for mediocrity that undermines the novel's thematic depth and character development.
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What Makes Edgar Run?
(summary)
In the following essay, Arthur R. Gold evaluates Arthur A. Cohen's novel "The Carpenter Years," asserting that while Cohen is not a novelist by trade, he effectively uses conventional fiction to explore deep religious themes and the personal complexities of identity and failure within contrasting cultural contexts.
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Symbolic Dimensions
(summary)
In the following essay, David Daiches critiques "The Carpenter Years" for its uneasy balance between realism and symbolism, arguing that the novel's symbolic ambitions are undermined by implausible scenarios and insufficient motivation despite its moments of skillful and powerful writing.
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Richard Horchler
(summary)
In the following review, Richard Horchler critiques Arthur A. Cohen's novel The Carpenter Years for its lack of character development and believability, attributing these shortcomings to Cohen's greater interest in exploring theological and philosophical ideas rather than genuinely engaging with his characters.
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John Leonard
(summary)
In the following essay, John Leonard critiques Arthur A. Cohen's "Acts of Theft," highlighting Cohen's success in evoking unseen art and exploring themes such as art as theft, the transformation of ancient to modern, and the artist's divine role, while also noting weaknesses in character development and narrative convenience.
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Graven Images and Other Temptations
(summary)
In the following essay, Mark Shechner critiques Arthur A. Cohen's novel "Acts of Theft" for attempting to explore the theme of idolatry and the morality of art through a convoluted narrative structure that ultimately prioritizes essayistic ruminations over coherent storytelling, leading to a lack of dramatic impact.
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Smirking
(summary)
In the following essay, John Naughton critiques Arthur A. Cohen's "Acts of Theft" as a novel that intertwines themes of artistic creativity and crime, ultimately delivering a complex narrative about the artistic psyche, though he suggests the novel's thematic collision results in an anticlimactic resolution.
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An Admirable Woman
(summary)
The critic explores how Cohen's novel "An Admirable Woman" intricately examines the concept of brilliance, portrays the haunting impact of the Nazi era, and features an allusive connection to Hannah Arendt, despite the author's assertion of fictional characters.
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An Admirable Woman
(summary)
In the following essay, Anatole Broyard critiques Arthur A. Cohen's "An Admirable Woman" for its ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to fictionalize Hannah Arendt's intellectual depth and complexity, resulting in a portrayal of the protagonist that lacks the dynamic engagement and convincing intellectual texture required for a compelling narrative.
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Not Hannah Arendt
(summary)
In the following essay, Earl Shorris critiques Arthur A. Cohen's novel "An Admirable Woman" for its exploration of fame, ethics, and intellectual life through the fictional character Erika Hertz, arguing that while the novel skillfully intertwines elements of Hannah Arendt's life, it ultimately falters due to its cautious treatment of a pivotal moral controversy.
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Edgar Morrison's Choice
(summary)
- Cohen, Arthur A(llen) (Vol. 7)