When Kafka Says We

"Liska's title is somewhat misleading: it suggests that the book is primarily about Franz Kafka or that certain aspects of his writing provide the volume's readings and analysis with a unifying thematic-heuristic thread. Rather, this is a collection of—for the most part—previously published work dealing with exemplary 20th-century Jewish authors, poets, and thinkers who wrote, or are still writing, in German—including (in addition to Kafka) Theodor Herzl, Else Lasker-Schüler, Paul Celan, Nelly Sachs, Ilse Aichinger, Robert Menasse, Doron Rabinovici, Robert Schindel, and Hannah Arendt. This does not mean that the volume is without merit. Quite the contrary. Looking at the sociocultural and political context of the 20th century, Liska (Univ. of Antwerp, Belgium) proffers nuanced, insightful, often provocative interpretations of selected works of interest to scholars of these particular writers. She explores how these German-Jewish writers' responses to anti-Semitism, along with their ambivalence about their marginal position, inspired 'unconventional literary approaches toward communities and selves and the relationship between them.' Keying on this level of ambivalence, Liska convincingly shows how these particular works—and literary language more generally—can unmask, subvert, but also reconfigure the 'oppressive cohesion of communal groupings' into new 'original and uncommon communities.' Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty. — Choice *** Do not use until Nov. 1."

~E. Williams, Texas A&M University

"Taking as its starting point Franz Kafka's complex relationship to Jews and to communities in general, When Kafka Says We explores the ambivalent responses of major German-Jewish writers to self-enclosed social, religious, ethnic, and ideological groups. Vivian Liska shows that, for Kafka and others, this ambivalence inspired innovative modes of writing which, while unmasking the oppressive cohesion of communal groupings, also configured original and uncommon communities. Interlinked close readings of works by German-Jewish writers such as Kafka, Else Lasker-Schüler, Nelly Sachs, Paul Celan, Ilse Aichinger, and Robert Schindel illuminate the ways in which literature can subvert, extend, or reconfigure established visions of communities."

~Joseph Haberer, Book Editor, SHOFAR

"[T]his is a collection of . . . work dealing with exemplary 20th-century Jewish authors, poets, and thinkers who wrote, or are still writing, in German—including (in addition to Kafka) Theodor Herzl, Else Lasker-Schüler, Paul Celan, Nelly Sachs, Ilse Aichinger, Robert Menasse, Doron Rabinovici, Robert Schindel, and Hannah Arendt. . . . Looking at the sociocultural and political context of the 20th century, Liska . . . proffers nuanced, insightful, often provocative interpretations of selected works of interest to scholars of these particular writers. She explores how these German-Jewish writers' responses to anti-Semitism, along with their ambivalence about their marginal position, inspired 'unconventional literary approaches toward communities and selves and the relationship between them.' Keying on this level of ambivalence, Liska convincingly shows how these particular works . . . can unmask, subvert, but also reconfigure the 'oppressive cohesion of communal groupings' into new 'original and uncommon communities.' . . . Recommended. — ChoiceNovember 2009"

"This book convincingly demonstrates a fruitful intersection betwen literary analysis and cultural studies to raise important questions about German Jewish identity and literature and would be a valuable read for those interested in German Jewish studies, Holocaust remembrance, and cultural studies as a whole. July, 2010"

~H-Judaic, H-Net Reviews

"Several essays here deserve to become important reference points in literary discussions. Spring 2011"

~Journal of Jewish Studies

"Liska has produced a fascinating volume ...34/2 May 2011"

~German Studies Review

"[T]his is a convincing and remarkable study, focused, yet of impressive breadth. . . . [S]hould be a mainstay in every university library offering German Studies or Jewish Studies on the graduate or undergraduate levels.Vol. 29, No. 3 Spring 2011"

~Shofar

"I know of no book quite like Liska's in range, sophisticated analysis, and importance for the appreciation of modern German-Jewish literature in the wake of Kafka."

~Geoffrey Hartman, Yale University

"Vivian Liska is remarkable for the precision of her readings. . . . She brings to her project a rich and varied sensibility—a mind at home in many languages and literatures and fields of thought."

~Stanley Corngold, Princeton University