“By analyzing Richler’s ethical commitments, Mauer opens up not only Richler’s work, but also crucial Canadian-Jewish issues of the period. Her analysis of the Richlerian hero’s relation to the law is both compelling and sophisticated.” Zailig Pollock, Trent University
“A timely and astute investigation of Richler’s work, one that takes the writer to task for his weaknesses without losing sight of his valuable contributions to Canadian letters. Rooted in solid academic research, Mauer’s book is also engagingly written and entertaining.” Krzysztof Majer, University of Lodz
“Mauer’s book is a careful, deeply admirable work of literary scholarship, of great value to anyone who studies modern Jewish literature.” Canadian Jewish Studies
“A sweeping study of all of Richler’s novels, from first to last – The Acrobats of 1954 to Barney’s Version of 1998 – informed by his non-fiction and recorded views. [Mauer brings] … a deep knowledge of Jewish laws and practice, history and literary traditions to her study.” Canadian Literature
“A long-overdue critical assessment of the provocative and humorous author’s entire corpus of novels, [Mordecai Richler's Imperfect Search for Moral Values] is the first scholarly book-length study of its kind. Mauer questions and refines some of the blanket condemnations that have been leveled at Richler and his writings—of Jewish self-hatred, anti-Israel bias, anti-Canadian sentiment, and political incorrectness, while also revealing the moral heft behind the humor and satirical bite of Richler’s characters and plots.” Studies in American Jewish Literature
