The Retreat
The Retreat by Aharon Appelfeld, published by Quartet in 1985, is a poignant exploration of identity and assimilation set against the backdrop of 1937. This New Ed edition spans 125 pages and is presented in English. The narrative unfolds at a hotel named The Retreat, where a man aims to rid himself and his guests of all “Jewish traits,” offering lessons on how to pass as gentiles. As the specter of Hitler looms, the characters grapple with the fading prospects of both assimilation and retreat, unaware of the impending dangers they face.
Readers will find a deeply reflective story that examines the complexities of identity and the human condition. The Retreat delves into themes of historical significance, particularly within the Jewish experience during a tumultuous period. Appelfeld’s writing is characterized by its mordant and shrewd style, providing insight into the lives of those who are tragically blind to their fate. This edition invites readers to engage with the intricate dynamics of a society on the brink of profound change.
Official synopsis Publisher
The year is 1937. On a remote hilltop some distance from Vienna stands a hotel called The Retreat. Founded by a man who is determined to cleanse himself and his guests of all “Jewish traits,” it is a resort of assimilation, with daily activities that include lessons in how to look, talk, act–in short, how to pass–as a gentile. But with Hitler on the march, the possibilities of both assimilation and retreat are quickly fading for the hotel’s patrons, men and women who are necessarily–and horrifically–blind to their fate. Mordant, shrewd, and elegantly written, “The Retreat” is a moving story of people forbidden to retreat from themselves, by the writer whom Irving Howe called “one of the best novelists alive.”
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