First published 1960
Arthur Fidelman, a struggling Jewish painter from New York, wanders through Italy seeking his artistic heritage among ancient ruins. He joins a cast of working-class characters: egg candlers sorting through shells by lamplight, shoemakers bent over their benches, matchmakers shuffling photographs of potential brides, and rabbis debating sacred texts. These stories move between the crowded streets of New York and the weathered stones of old Europe. Fidelman's quest for artistic purpose mirrors the broader immigrant experience of characters caught between old traditions and new possibilities. Each story captures individuals wrestling with disappointment and longing, yet Malamud finds moments of unexpected joy within their daily struggles. The collection blends street-level realism with touches of the mystical, told in rhythms that echo Yiddish speech patterns. These characters face heartbreak and frustration, but their stories pulse with life and stubborn hope.
Genres: short-stories, art, literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, jewish
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family, quest
Setting: Europe, Italy, New York
Period: 20th Century
224 pages · Hardcover · Eyre & Spottswoode