Jabes's last book is a response to the increasing racism in France that he witnessed before his death in 1991. The author, himself a foreigner who was exiled from Egypt after the Suez crisis in 1956, identifies with the "wandering Jew." Jabes attests that the writer is the most foreign of the foreign and takes refuge in the book, which can never deport him. But any book is inevitably doomed to failure because it emulates a mythic, unattainable book. Jabes establishes a dialog between several interlocutors who pose unanswerable questions about life and its meaning. Readers unfamiliar with Jabes's style (e.g., The Book of Resemblances , Vol. 2, LJ 6/1/91) will not enjoy this book; however, knowledgeable readers will relish Jabes's new ways of writing poetry and his insights on existence and meaning. Waldrop's translation is readable and natural. Recommended for scholars, poets, and Jabes fans. - Bob Ivey, Memphis State Univ., Tenn.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. (amazon) (pdf accessible via scribd)
