Behind four of America's most 'Eminent Jews'

David Denby’s book 'Eminent Jews' chronicles the influence of four significant figures in post-war American culture: Mel Brooks, Betty Friedan, Norman Mailer, and Leonard Bernstein. Drawing a comparison to Lytton Strachey’s 'Eminent Victorians,' Denby's work focuses on New York's cultural landscape. Mailer, in particular, exemplifies the tumultuous and impactful Jewish experience in America, marked by his literary acclaim and controversial personal life. Denby acknowledges Mailer's Jewish identity but emphasizes that it was not central to his fame or persona, shedding light on the complexities of cultural representation.

Denby’s selection of Mel Brooks, Betty Friedan, Norman Mailer, and Leonard Bernstein for 'Eminent Jews' offers unique insights into post-war American Jewish identity and culture.

Mailer’s chaotic life, from Brooklyn boy to national celebrity, illustrates the complex tapestry of the Jewish experience intertwined with America's cultural evolution.

Despite the focus on Jewish identity in his biography, Denby acknowledges that Mailer’s Jewishness was never the defining aspect of his multifaceted persona.

David Denby draws parallels between his quartet and Lytton Strachey’s 'Eminent Victorians,' yet emphasizes the cultural rather than historical significance of his subjects.

Read at New York Post