JST 528 - Jewish Historical Fiction
This course will explore the various aspects and uses of Jewish historical fiction (JHF). Questions to be explored will include: what makes “good” JHF; what characteristics should be subject to fictionalization and which should remain faithful to history; and which characters are best suited to JHF and how to incorporate actual and purely fictive historical figures. Selected passages from well-known (and some not so well-known) JHF novels and short stories will be used to illustrate these and other inquiries. Using trade “how-to” books, the course will provide hands-on instruction, and students will create their own JHF through workshop teams. Each individual student will also write a short JHF narrative.