Leslie Epstein Criticism
Leslie Epstein is an American novelist, short story writer, and essayist whose work spans farcical satire and historical fiction. His novel P. D. Kimerakov (1975) is a spoof on Russian sixties satires, critiqued by Anne Marie Stamford and David Bromwich for its humorous yet confusing narrative. Conversely, King of the Jews (1979), set in the Lodz ghetto during World War II, explores the complexities of Jewish leadership under Nazi oppression. While it has been praised for addressing moral and historical challenges, as noted by Robert Alter, critics like Ruth R. Wisse and Jane Larkin Crain argue that its satirical style risks trivializing the Holocaust.
Epstein's novel Regina (1982) addresses personal transformation, portraying a middle-aged Jewish woman's quest for self-liberation and identity. Susan Lydon highlights the novel's balanced depiction of social history and personal growth. Despite its influences from Saul Bellow, as mentioned in a Kirkus Reviews critique, George Stade commends Epstein's narrative finesse and character depth. Together, these works showcase Epstein's literary versatility and his engagement with themes of historical and personal significance.
Contents
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P. D. Kimerakov
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In the following essay, Anne Marie Stamford critiques Leslie Epstein's "P. D. Kimerakov" as a humorous yet ultimately unengaging spoof of Russian sixties satires, highlighting its excessive descriptions and a confusing narrative despite occasional comedic moments.
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Pain Does a Ninotchka
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In the following essay, David Bromwich critiques Leslie Epstein's novel "P. D. Kimerakov," arguing that while the novel showcases Epstein’s lyrical style and charm, it falters with a muddled narrative tone and forced humor that detracts from its exploration of complex historical themes.
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The Steinway Quintet
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In the following essay, Katha Pollitt praises Leslie Epstein's "The Steinway Quintet" for its wit, originality, and exploration of the conflict between culture and violence, while also critiquing its occasional reliance on overly symbolic gestures and formulaic conclusions.
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Fairy Tale
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In the following essay, Ruth R. Wisse critiques Leslie Epstein's novel King of the Jews for its farcical depiction of Holocaust events and characters, arguing that the book's approach trivializes the Jewish tragedy by failing to engage deeply with the historical and moral complexities of the Lodz ghetto experience.
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King of the Jews
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In the following essay, Jane Larkin Crain criticizes Leslie Epstein's novel King of the Jews for its stylized prose and perceived trivialization of the Holocaust through its portrayal of the Jewish ghetto experience as a mythical background, ultimately arguing that it diminishes the historical suffering of the Jewish people during the Nazi regime.
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The Damned
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In the following essay, Neal Ascherson critiques Leslie Epstein's novel "King of the Jews," examining its portrayal of Holocaust events through the lens of satire and questioning the novel's depiction of its protagonist, Isaiah Trumpelman, as potentially more demonic than tragic, while acknowledging Epstein's courage, grief, and talent.
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A Fable of Power
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In the following essay, Robert Alter argues that Leslie Epstein's novel "King of the Jews" effectively addresses the Holocaust's narrative challenges by focusing on the morally complex politics of a Judenrat leader, employing a unique narrative style that both adheres to historical fact and utilizes artistic restraint to illuminate this dark chapter of history.
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Looking Backward: Six Novels
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In the following essay, Edith Milton critiques Leslie Epstein's King of the Jews for its ironic, stylistic approach to the Holocaust, contending that the novel's playful narrative techniques and characterizations undermine its serious subject matter, reducing complex historical realities to an adolescent fantasy.
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Regina
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In the following review, the critic suggests that Leslie Epstein's novel "Regina" is heavily influenced by Saul Bellow's work but falls short by delivering a narrative that feels derivative and lacks the original exploration seen in his previous work "King of the Jews."
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Parallels Are Everywhere
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In the following essay, George Stade argues that Leslie Epstein's novel "Regina" masterfully intertwines themes of personal and societal catastrophe with subtle and convincing dramatizations of art, life, and identity, showcasing Epstein's control and narrative daring while depicting complex characters with imaginative sympathy.
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Susan Lydon
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In the following essay, Susan Lydon praises Leslie Epstein's novel Regina for illuminating the often overlooked experience of middle-aged Jewish women, presenting the character Regina Glassman as both a realistic individual and a symbol of social history, while maintaining a balanced tone throughout.