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The Art of Biblical Narrative

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( 1,720 ratings, 223 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Art of Biblical Narrative, Robert Alter reimagines the Hebrew Bible as a masterful work of literary art. He explores how its diverse authors skilfully employed devices such as parallelism, contrastive dialogue, and narrative tempo to craft the profound story of monotheistic revelation, transforming biblical scholarship by inviting readers to appreciate the Bible’s storytelling craft.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers interested in religion, literature, and biblical criticism, including scholars and general readers keen to explore the Bible's narrative artistry beyond theology.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Since it was first published nearly three decades ago, The Art of Biblical Narrative has radically expanded the horizons of biblical scholarship by recasting the Bible as a work of literary art deserving studied criticism.

Renowned critic and translator Robert Alter presents the Hebrew Bible as a cohesive literary work, one whose many authors used innovative devices such as parallelism, contrastive dialogue, and narrative tempo to tell one of the most revolutionary stories of human history: the revelation of a single god.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised by The New York Times as "an admirable book" that restores familiar biblical tales with vibrancy, this groundbreaking study has been celebrated for opening the Bible to literary criticism. The Los Angeles Times called it "a groundbreaking study" revealing the text's deeper heart, while The Washington Post noted its appeal to those interested in storytelling fundamentals. Winner of the National Jewish Book Award for Jewish Thought, the book continues to inspire new generations of readers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780465022557

Publisher: Basic Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 April 2011

Country: United States

Imprint: Basic Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 209.0mm

Weight: 240g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Robert Alter is a Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a recipient of the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime contributions to American letters, he lives in Berkeley, California.

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