Description:
Identifying elements of the Christian worldview that have influenced our theories of tragedy, Steele demonstrates how these theories fail when applied to Holocaust literature. The challenge of interpreting Holocaust literature is highlighted by a close investigation of the extent to which Christian thought, especially the view of transcendence, has permeated theories of interpretation. The author appeals for a new theory of tragedy which would allow an understanding of Holocaust literature without Christian interpretive biases. This book will be of interest to scholars of Holocaust literature, religion, and literary criticism.
Brief description:
MICHAEL R. STEELE is Distinguished Professor of Humanities at Pacific University in Oregon./e He is president of the Oregon Holocaust Resource Center and chair of the Peace and Conflict Studies program at Pacific University. He is the author of Knute Rockne: A Bio-Bibliography (Greenwood, 1983).
Review Quotes: "Readable and based on solid scholarship, this is a fine contribution to literature in general and to the evaluation of Holocaust literature specifically."-National Catholic Reporter