Have you heard of American literary critic Cynthia Ozick? I hadn’t until recently, when a kind friend (thanks, Brian) introduced me to her work. I loved reading What Henry James Knew and Other Essays on Writers. This book was published in 1993 and contains penetrating essays on James, Edith Wharton, Leonard Woolf, T.S. Eliot and others through to J.M. Coetzee. Ozick is Jewish and some of the chapters focus on Jewish writers about whom I knew very little – Primo Levi, Saul Bellow, Gershom Scholem. I enjoyed learning more about their lives and writings. The essays are about the writers’ lives, legacies, what makes them tick and how they have been treated by posterity.
Cynthia Ozick has been described as “the Emily Dickinson of the Bronx” and “one of the most accomplished and graceful literary stylists of her time”. She is not only an essayist, but a skilled novelist and short-story writer as well. Famed for once asking Norman Mailer what coloured ink he dipped his balls in, she is not afraid to engage in controversy. The essays examine Primo Levi’s suicide note, she attacks E.M. Forster’s liberalism, and argues that T.S. Eliot’s famous phrase about being “in rat’s alley” was his recoil to the hysteria of his wife Vivien.
Reading essays or volumes of literary criticism may not be to your taste. However, I found that, even when I’d read nothing by the authors discussed, I was still interested and inspired to read more. Ozick is not a writer in a hurry – you have to slow down and savour. This is not a light read, but it’s a book that well repays the effort.
Will you read this book? Let me know by leaving a comment.
Selected links for relevant websites, books, movies, videos, and more. Some of these links lead to protected content on this website, learn more about that here.
I provide these links for convenience only and do not endorse or assume liability for the content or quality of these third-party sites. I only recommend books I have read and know. Some of these links may be affiliate links. If you buy a product by clicking on one of these links I may receive a small commission. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but does help cover the cost of producing my free newsletter.
Tell me what you think! Leave a comment.
Carolyn Taylor-Watts
Yes, I certainly will read Cynthia’s book – thanks for recommending it!
Susannah Fullerton
I hope you enjoy it.
Ann Robinson
I think I will read it. I love essays especially on writers. They give ( if they are good essays ) a wonderful insight to writers which seem to enrich my reading their works
Brian
Her most brilliant novel will soon be in your hands Susannah
Reserve a day
Our Mutual Friend
Margi
Thanks to our mutual friend, I have read (most of) this book too. I found her insights fascinating, especially on TS Elliot. I agree it is dense but so beautifully researched and written. I wish she had been my lecturer at university! I learned so much.
Suanne Cosgrove
Thanls for the introduction to Ozick
Susannah Fullerton
She is a really interesting writer.