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book: Agnon's Moonstruck Lovers
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Agnon's Moonstruck Lovers

The Song of Songs in Israeli Culture
Language: English
Published/Copyright: 2014

About this book

Agnon's Moonstruck Lovers explores the response of Israel’s Nobel laureate S. Y. Agnon to the privileged position of the Song of Songs in Israeli culture. Standing at a unique crossroads between religion and secularism, Agnon probes the paradoxes and ambiguities of the Zionist hermeneutic project. In adopting the Song, Zionist interpreters sought to return to the erotic, pastoral landscapes of biblical times. Their quest for a new, uplifting, secular literalism, however, could not efface the haunting impact of allegorical configurations of love. With superb irony, Agnon's tales recast Israeli biblicism as a peculiar chapter within the ever-surprising history of biblical exegesis.

Author / Editor information

Ilana Pardes is professor of comparative literature at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

Reviews

"In her vital contribution to Agnon studies, Ilana Pardes delivers a richly multifaceted exploration…[that]will be valuable reading for any dedicated student of modern Hebrew literature and culture. Its impact on Agnon scholarship will surely be significant and lasting."

Topics

  • Publicly Available

    Frontmatter

    i
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    Contents

    vii
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    Acknowledgments

    ix
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    1 Introduction

    1
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    2 The Song of Songs as Cultural Text

    30
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    3 Rechnitz’s Botany of Love

    66
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    4 The Biblical Ethnographies of “Edo and Enam” and the Quest for the Ultimate Song

    96
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    Epilogue: Forevermore

    121
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    Appendix

    137
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    Notes

    149
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    Bibliography

    179
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    Index

    193
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Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
December 11, 2024
eBook ISBN:
9780295804774
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Main content:
216
View content
https://doi.org/10.1515/9780295804774
eBook ISBN: 9780295804774
Keywords for this book
Jewish Studies; Literary Studies
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
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