Israel and the Dead Sea Scrolls

by Edmund Wilson

The scrolls of the Essenes and the history of this Jewish sect's possible antecedence to Christianity intrigued Edmund Wilson and drew him, in 1954, to Israel and the revelations contained in the newly discovered scrolls. His resulting account of the scrolls' history and significance was first published in New Yorker, then expanded into book form, and the revised just before Wilson's death. ...the result is a provocative and absorbing report.-The New York Times

Genres: History, Religion, Nonfiction

420 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database. See also physicist Edmund Wilson.

Edmund Wilson Jr. was a towering figure in 20th-century American literary criticism, known for his expansive intellect, stylistic clarity, and commitment to serious literary and political engagement. Over a prolific career, Wilson wrote for Vanity Fair, The New Republic, The New Yorker, and The New York Review of Books, shaping the critical conversation on literature, politics, and culture. His major critical works—such as Axel's Castle and Patriotic Gore—combined literary analysis with historical insight, and he ventured boldly into subjects typically reserved for academic specialists, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, Native American cultures, and the American Civil War.
Wilson was also the author of fiction, memoirs, and plays, though his influence rested most strongly on his literary essays and political writing. He was instrumental in promoting the reputations of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Vladimir Nabokov, and many others. Despite his friendships with several of these authors, his criticism could be unflinching, even scathing—as seen in his public dismissal of H. P. Lovecraft and J. R. R. Tolkien. His combative literary style often drew attention, and his exacting standards for writing, along with his distaste for popular or commercial literature, placed him in a tradition of high-minded literary seriousness.
Beyond the realm of letters, Wilson was politically active, aligning himself at times with socialist ideals and vocally opposing Cold War policies and the Vietnam War. His principled refusal to pay income tax in protest of U.S. militarization led to a legal battle and a widely read protest book.
Wilson was married four times and had several significant personal and intellectual relationships, including with Fitzgerald and Nabokov. He also advocated for the preservation and celebration of American literary heritage, a vision realized in the creation of the Library of America after his death. For his contributions to American letters, Wilson received multiple honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His legacy endures through his extensive body of work, which remains a touchstone for literary scholars and general readers alike.

Reviews

[Joe Zabinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an anthology of essays and articles about the Dead Sea Scrolls. It provides a fascinating introduction to the subject, giving the reader a variety of sources should further research be desired. It includes some excellent adventure stories, such as the experiences of Metropolitan Samuel, the equivalent of a Syrian archbishop, who recognizes the importance of the scrolls when nobody in Western academia came anywhere else close. It embeds the story of the Scrolls in the context of the constant battles in 1960's Israel, and introduces us to all of the personalities surrounding the Scrolls at that time. The author is secular, and uses his secularity to wonderful advantage, keeping to the archaeological facts in his discussion of the cultural centrality of the Scrolls. He bounces from one article to the next while keeping to an overall educational agenda. You will be entertained and educated by this work.

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not knowing much about the author, I read this volume just after seminary graduation. Years later, knowing quite a bit about Edmund Wilson, I picked up his longer, later book about the subject. Both, while unexpert, are informed and enthusiast. As ever, the writing style is excellent.

[Toby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book breaks down the Dead Sea Scrolls and the geographic areas that are involved with their translation/discovery. Although it may be wordy at times Wilson does write more casually than many other academics on the subject which allows for a better understanding generally. Highly recommend this book.