ABSTRACT
Holocaust scholarship is generally separated into two broad realms. On the one side, Holocaust historiography abounds; on the other side we find the work of Holocaust fiction and the work of literary criticism. I think that educators should have some grasp of both of these worlds. Historiography is crucial for understanding this event while fiction evokes emotional and intellectual registers that historiography does not. My aim in this chapter, then, is to examine Holocaust fiction. In this chapter, I look at Jewish novels and German (non-Jewish) novels, side by side. My treatment of Holocaust literature is unlike the work done by literary critics. Literary critics, who do work on Holocaust novels, tend to be divided into those who examine exclusively German (non-Jewish) texts, or those who examine exclusively Jewish texts. Literary critics who study either German (non Jewish) or Jewish texts tend not to cross over and look at the other side. This not-crossing-over is myopic. An either/or framework limits the horizon of understanding. A both/and approach is better. Here my framework is broadened. I suggest, therefore, that educators need to read both German and Jewish texts alongside one another. I am not arguing, however, that one can get the whole picture by reading these texts side by side. Understanding is always partial. But I am suggesting that a broader encounter with this material is necessary if we are to call ourselves educated people.
