Adina Hoffman

Fascinating, but I'm overwhelmed with facts; I won't remember them all: There are the names of all the people connected with the Cairo Geniza and what they found from there and how it changed, created, added to many topics, including biblical commentary, Spanish poetry, daily life, and our knowledge of many important scholars, poets, writers, some not known before. I found out that Solomon Schechter met Flinders Petrie, "the leading English Egyptologist of the day [p.81]," and they sailed back from Egypt to England together and nearly drowned on the same ship. They shared "Petrie's belief in the archeological importance of 'unconsidered trifles' for the reconstruction of history." [p. 81]… (mehr)

In this latest entry in the Yale “Jewish Lives” series, Hoffman beautifully illuminates the life and works of Ben Hecht, one of the most accomplished and prolific American screenwriters. Besides writing dozens of now-classic scripts he was also an ace reporter, celebrated playwright, taboo-busting novelist, and a quick-witted provocateur. During WWII, he also emerged as an outspoken crusader for the imperiled Jews of Europe. He later became a fierce propagandist for pre-1948 Palestine’s Jewish terrorist underground. Adina Hoffman’s vivid portrait brings this charismatic and contradictory figure back to life. Hecht had a major influence on 20th century popular culture and Hoffman shows just how important he was in his day and why he matters now.… (mehr)

It's impossible to separate the presentation and subject of the book for a review, but five stars for the subject matter, which I found consistently revelatory and fascinating (largely due to my ignorance about the establishment of Israel and its impact of those living there) and because it has information that should be more widely known. And it's great fun to read despite some very lengthy excursions into history as well as the subject Taha Mohamaad Ali's poet friends and colleagues, whose stories are wirth knowing but one feels distracted, a problem the author Adina Hoffman seems to have been well aware of. I was deeply moved to see, while leaving through it after finishing reading, that it is dedicated to the poet's wife, simply "For Yusra" whose life also is well worth contemplating. The subtitle is enigmatic.… (mehr)