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Library of Modern Jewish Literature
The Island Within
A novel by a modern American Jewish writer. Arthur Levey, a young psychoanalyst, leaves an American wife to journey on some obscure mission to eastern Europe on behalf of his race.
266 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1928
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 11, 2013
Lewisohn begins each of the six sections of the novel with a short essay, a sort of social analysis of the problems faced by American Jews. Although Zionism is never directly addressed, the novel’s thesis reflects the arguments for a Jewish homeland: that there is a “Jewish problem,” not only in Europe but also in the US; that anti-Semitism persists, even in modern countries; and that Jews, to develop normal relationships (especially sexual relationships) must feel at “home” in their families and in a wider community. Written in 1928, several years before Hitler comes to power, Lewisohn’s fears about the false promise of assimilation, especially in Europe, seem prescient.
The novel’s central character Arthur is a Jewish psychoanalyst who treats self-hating Jews (although this term doesn’t come into vogue until the 1940s). He marries the daughter of a Protestant preacher, a journalist, who like him, has left her roots and seeks to find her place among the literati of NYC. But Elizabeth feels at home everywhere, while Arthur is always an outsider.
Lewisohn was receptive to new ideas of all sorts—except when it came to sexual politics. Arthur claims not to mind that Elizabeth “works.” If she were doing it for him, or for their home, he claims he would approve. But he is turned off by her ambition (and not incidentally, by the fact that Elizabeth makes more money than he). Arthur is also successful professionally, but he becomes increasingly withdrawn, having little to do with friends or family, while Elizabeth’s social and professional life blossom.
As Arthur’s alienation from American society grows, he begins to reconnect with the traditions of his ancestors. But to his mind a real home is one with a traditional wife, and he blames Elizabeth’s Protestant background for both sexual incompatibility and her conception of marriage as “a pleasant companionship.” While Arthur claims to “know” that “except in imitation of their Gentile sisters and more or less from the lips outward, Jewish women were not dissatisfied with their position and did not protest against the dominance of the male. He knew of none that did not rule unquestioned in her sphere nor of any that was not her husband’s most valued councilor in his.” Really??
Perhaps it’s unfair, but I would like to hear Elizabeth’s version of this story.
The novel’s central character Arthur is a Jewish psychoanalyst who treats self-hating Jews (although this term doesn’t come into vogue until the 1940s). He marries the daughter of a Protestant preacher, a journalist, who like him, has left her roots and seeks to find her place among the literati of NYC. But Elizabeth feels at home everywhere, while Arthur is always an outsider.
Lewisohn was receptive to new ideas of all sorts—except when it came to sexual politics. Arthur claims not to mind that Elizabeth “works.” If she were doing it for him, or for their home, he claims he would approve. But he is turned off by her ambition (and not incidentally, by the fact that Elizabeth makes more money than he). Arthur is also successful professionally, but he becomes increasingly withdrawn, having little to do with friends or family, while Elizabeth’s social and professional life blossom.
As Arthur’s alienation from American society grows, he begins to reconnect with the traditions of his ancestors. But to his mind a real home is one with a traditional wife, and he blames Elizabeth’s Protestant background for both sexual incompatibility and her conception of marriage as “a pleasant companionship.” While Arthur claims to “know” that “except in imitation of their Gentile sisters and more or less from the lips outward, Jewish women were not dissatisfied with their position and did not protest against the dominance of the male. He knew of none that did not rule unquestioned in her sphere nor of any that was not her husband’s most valued councilor in his.” Really??
Perhaps it’s unfair, but I would like to hear Elizabeth’s version of this story.
June 14, 2022
** 2.5 stars **
This novel centers on the life of Arthur Levy, a first generation Jewish American child of German Jewish immigrants to the United States. We see how Arthur navigates life in the 1910s and 20s in a society that is not completely hostile to Jews but not overly welcoming or free from antisemitism either. He marries a non-Jewish woman named Elizabeth, which then presents challenges in terms of which religious tradition their son will be raised with.
The characterization in this novel was definitely lacking. You could tell that Lewisohn had certain ideas he wanted to get across (antisemitism in the U.S., problems with intermarriage) and used the novel as a vehicle for those ideas rather than their arising organically through the characters and environment he'd created. There were also mini essays at the start of each of the nine sections of the novel, which interrupted the narrative flow of the book. Ultimately, I think he'd have been better off writing a series of essays on Jewish life in America instead of shoehorning everything into a work of fiction.
This novel centers on the life of Arthur Levy, a first generation Jewish American child of German Jewish immigrants to the United States. We see how Arthur navigates life in the 1910s and 20s in a society that is not completely hostile to Jews but not overly welcoming or free from antisemitism either. He marries a non-Jewish woman named Elizabeth, which then presents challenges in terms of which religious tradition their son will be raised with.
The characterization in this novel was definitely lacking. You could tell that Lewisohn had certain ideas he wanted to get across (antisemitism in the U.S., problems with intermarriage) and used the novel as a vehicle for those ideas rather than their arising organically through the characters and environment he'd created. There were also mini essays at the start of each of the nine sections of the novel, which interrupted the narrative flow of the book. Ultimately, I think he'd have been better off writing a series of essays on Jewish life in America instead of shoehorning everything into a work of fiction.
May 25, 2021
Perhaps one of the most underrated books about North American Jewish identity I have ever read. There is not much more to say other than what has already been said by Diane, in her review here on Goodreads. I would add that I find it amazing how a nearly 100-year-old book (notably written before the modern state of Israel and the Holocaust) resonates so clearly with me now, in the year 2021. My only criticism is with how the author handles questions of assimilation and gender. I might as well be blunt: Lewisohn has a very sexist and narrow view of marriage and gender. While surely a symptom of the book's age, the marriage arc of the narrative does not translate very well for most 21st-century readers and damages the book's overall appeal.
Nevertheless, when it comes to questions of Jewish identity and history, Lewisohn is spot on. This is a necessary read for anyone struggling with Jewish identity and questions of assimilation, place, and the importance of history and land.
Nevertheless, when it comes to questions of Jewish identity and history, Lewisohn is spot on. This is a necessary read for anyone struggling with Jewish identity and questions of assimilation, place, and the importance of history and land.
October 17, 2024
The Island Within is a visceral psychic probing of the modern Jewish dilemma. Lewisohn ought to be regarded as the Jewish Fanon. That he has been mostly forgotten speaks to the spiritual failure of American Jewry.
June 19, 2010
From the essay I published several years ago on JBooks.com:
"Ten years ago I found myself searching for a final paper topic in a course on Jewish-American Literature. Much as I’d enjoyed our assigned readings, which emphasized the Yiddish tradition, my own heritage was equally rooted in cities along the Rhine and villages on the edge of the Black Forest. It inspired me to ask the professor to recommend a particularly German Jewish-American writer to investigate for my final paper. Almost without hesitation, she named Ludwig Lewisohn's The Island Within.
Within pages I was hooked. I told almost anyone who’d listen about this remarkable book, about its unusual format—with essays introducing the more clearly fictional sections—about its protagonist Arthur Levy. I spoke (more selectively) about the uncanny echoes that resonated, still, so many decades later; even near the end of the twentieth century I concurred with a critic in the Menorah Journal who had acknowledged back in 1928: “Any American Jew reading [The Island Within:] will recognize it as true talk about ourselves.”
To read the rest of the essay, please click here.
"Ten years ago I found myself searching for a final paper topic in a course on Jewish-American Literature. Much as I’d enjoyed our assigned readings, which emphasized the Yiddish tradition, my own heritage was equally rooted in cities along the Rhine and villages on the edge of the Black Forest. It inspired me to ask the professor to recommend a particularly German Jewish-American writer to investigate for my final paper. Almost without hesitation, she named Ludwig Lewisohn's The Island Within.
Within pages I was hooked. I told almost anyone who’d listen about this remarkable book, about its unusual format—with essays introducing the more clearly fictional sections—about its protagonist Arthur Levy. I spoke (more selectively) about the uncanny echoes that resonated, still, so many decades later; even near the end of the twentieth century I concurred with a critic in the Menorah Journal who had acknowledged back in 1928: “Any American Jew reading [The Island Within:] will recognize it as true talk about ourselves.”
To read the rest of the essay, please click here.
January 14, 2011
Just finished this novel. Picked it up (first edition) in a thrift store cause it looked really old and mysterious. And I thank God I did.
I don't even know where to begin.
This book has so much depth in it, you really learn something rather than just being entertained. Being a Gentile, this book gave me such an understanding of not only the social difficulties Jewish people had to endure, but the psychological. The world has focused so much on what is done outside of a Jew, but there is a larger war going on within their soul. What is even more saddening, is this was written before the holocaust and the Jewish people were still experiencing this type of treatment.The story itself, especially when it focuses on Arthur, is entertaining, endearing, and purposeful. Leisohn writes mini-essays before each book (or chapter, you could say) that are full of depth and sentences that could be wise proverbs themselves. I can't recommend this book enough. Even if you feel you are running into slow parts, keep reading! The story as a whole is a treasure.
I don't even know where to begin.
This book has so much depth in it, you really learn something rather than just being entertained. Being a Gentile, this book gave me such an understanding of not only the social difficulties Jewish people had to endure, but the psychological. The world has focused so much on what is done outside of a Jew, but there is a larger war going on within their soul. What is even more saddening, is this was written before the holocaust and the Jewish people were still experiencing this type of treatment.The story itself, especially when it focuses on Arthur, is entertaining, endearing, and purposeful. Leisohn writes mini-essays before each book (or chapter, you could say) that are full of depth and sentences that could be wise proverbs themselves. I can't recommend this book enough. Even if you feel you are running into slow parts, keep reading! The story as a whole is a treasure.
October 29, 2012
Fascinating novel about Jews and Jewish identity. Interesting how so many conflicts are still with us today--how much of Jewish practice consists of customs and not actual Jewish law. Much of the discussion on anti-Semitism seems dated. He traces a Jewish family from Eastern Europe, to Germany, to the United States with the relevant impact of assimilation and Jewish identity. Recommended if these topics interest you, as the plot itself will not hold you.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews