Imagine a husband and wife having breakfast in their kitchen without looking at each other or exchanging a word, each with their own stock of food in a separate cupboard, under lock and key to prevent poisoning by “the other;” imagine fathers murdering their children or children murdering their parents.
I would say that practically the entire European cultural establishment in that era was antisemitic. Political allegiance simply didn't matter. George Orwell, a socialist "humanist," had employed antisemitic rhetoric and imagery in his novels, particularly in "Down and Out in Paris and London," where he reminisces about his time working a low wage job in Paris. His depiction of French Jews is abhorrent, vile, and antisemitic.
More of a mixed bag, I would say. For every James Joyce (ally), there is an Ezra Pound (enemy), and for every one of them, there is a Virginia Woolf (mixed record).
I am skeptical of and vigilant about the mixed record folks like Woolf and Orwell.
The allies (and I would add Jack Kerouac and Albert Camus to the list of allies) - I am happy they made their stances known. Unfortunately, I fear they are in the minority.
Interesting stuff. If he was sincerely a friend to Jews, as he maintained, then his behaviour during the war (and in penning the antisemitic articles in the 1920s) was proof of intellectual and moral cowardice, not to mention self-serving cynicism. But I guess it's expensive keeping all those servants and mistresses.
I would say that practically the entire European cultural establishment in that era was antisemitic. Political allegiance simply didn't matter. George Orwell, a socialist "humanist," had employed antisemitic rhetoric and imagery in his novels, particularly in "Down and Out in Paris and London," where he reminisces about his time working a low wage job in Paris. His depiction of French Jews is abhorrent, vile, and antisemitic.
And Orwell is considered an ally of the Jews.
More of a mixed bag, I would say. For every James Joyce (ally), there is an Ezra Pound (enemy), and for every one of them, there is a Virginia Woolf (mixed record).
I am skeptical of and vigilant about the mixed record folks like Woolf and Orwell.
The allies (and I would add Jack Kerouac and Albert Camus to the list of allies) - I am happy they made their stances known. Unfortunately, I fear they are in the minority.
Interesting stuff. If he was sincerely a friend to Jews, as he maintained, then his behaviour during the war (and in penning the antisemitic articles in the 1920s) was proof of intellectual and moral cowardice, not to mention self-serving cynicism. But I guess it's expensive keeping all those servants and mistresses.
You always bring forth interesting topics! Thank you. Oddly enough, I knew nothing of this author.