The Concealed Verses: Source Material in the Works of A. B. Yehoshua (review)

Hebrew Studies 35 (1994) 156 Reviews presented almost as afterthoughts rather than as part of an integrated treatment . The same impression is conveyed, at points, by extremely lengthy notation, raising speculation as to how thoroughly the content of such notes has been assimilated conceptually into the overall presentation. These are, however, minor faults in what is otherwise to be regarded as a seminal scholarly contribution, well written and lucid. If there is such a thing as "total interpretation," Hurowitz has come quite close to accomplishing it. In the final analysis, what is most refreshing about Hurowitz' study is that it utilizes culturally and historically related models from the ancient Near East, rather than imposing on the biblical text theoretical, literary models unrelated to the Hebrew Bible in time, space or cognate culture. The study of cult and ritual is presently a major focus of biblical studies, but it was chronically neglected in earlier decades of the twentieth century. It is now realized that the living character of Israelite religion is conveyed not only by prophetic teaching and by the fervent expressiveness of the Psalms or by flowing narratives, but by what appear to be, at first glance, conventional records and repetitive prescriptions. When interpreted as Hurowitz has read them, the biblical building accounts reveal the basic motivations underlying religious worship and some of the central concerns of Israelite society. As it has become customary to say: God is in the details! Baruch A. Levine New York University New York, NY 10003 THE CONCEALED VERSES: SOURCE MATERIAL IN THE WORKS OF A. B. YEHOSHUA. By Yedidya Itzhaki. Pp. 336. RamatGan : Bar-Han University Press, 1992. Cloth. Following T. S. Eliot's principles in ''Tradition and the Individual Talent" (Selected Essays, 1951), Itzhald offers in his book a comprehensive study of intertextual influences on Yehoshua's literary writings. Claude LeviStrauss 's structuralist method, in his studies of myth (The Structuralisl Sludy ofMyth, 1973), is regarded by the author of The Concealed Verses as a valuable means for literary analysis. Itzhaki examines systematically all of Yehoshua's works (including three unpublished compositions, that have been included as a supplement to this book) and their links to Hebrew and world literature. Hebrew Studies 35 (1994) 157 Reviews The book consists of three parts. In the first part concepts are defined and the apparatus for analysis is established. Itzhaki follows Hillel Barzel (Ha-Shir he-Hadash, 1976) in distinguishing between fundamental and superficial links. The first are those links that are part of the deep structure of the later work and thus influence its meaning. According to Itzhaki, the most common fundamental links are the intertextual allusions. Following Ziva Ben-Porat ("The Poetics of Literary Allusion," PTL 1 [1976] pp. 105128 ), he goes on to distinguish between a "metaphoric relation" and a "metonymic relation." The "metaphoric relation" is limited to a specific issue without relating to the link's background, while the "metonymic relation " refers through the connotation to the vast meaning of its context. Although Itzhaki points out all kinds of relations, he is mainly interested in the metonymic relation. The second part of the book includes a comprehensive analysis of Yehoshua's literary works. The works are analyzed chronologically and systematically. Itzhaki's chronological analysis asserts two of his claims: (a) Yehoshua's literary work developed from the genre of the short story through the novellas to the full size novel; (b) his style changed from abstract symbolism, dominated by Agnon's influence, to symbolic realism. Although Itzhaki claims mainly to be interested in the metonymic intertextual relations, many segments offer "metaphoric relations" that lead nowhere. The many unrelated links which the author notes in most of the works reveal materials or influences that map Yehoshua's associations, but do not combine to suggest a new or different reading of his works. There are, however, some segments in which Itzhaki does succeed in offering a new reading as a result of his intertextual analysis. Such is the case with Late Divorce. The novel revolves around the subject of the disintegration of the family, social degeneration and moral decadence. Following the mottos inscribed at the beginning of each chapter of Late Divorce, Itzhaki analyzes...