A M Klein a Memoir
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This memoir examines the literary contributions of Abraham Moses Klein (1909-1972), a pioneering Canadian-Jewish poet who significantly influenced modern Canadian poetry. Through biographical analysis and textual examination, the study explores Klein's unique position as a trilingual writer navigating English, French, and Jewish cultures in Montreal. The methodology employs close reading of Klein's major works, including *The Rocking Chair* (1948) and *The Second Scroll* (1951), alongside personal recollections and literary assessment. The analysis reveals Klein's innovative integration of Jewish themes with modernist poetic techniques, establishing him as what Ludwig Lewisohn termed "the first contributor of authentic Jewish poetry to the English language." Key findings demonstrate Klein's exceptional linguistic versatility, from translating medieval Hebrew poetry into Chaucerian English to capturing French-Canadian cultural nuances. The study documents his editorial work for Jewish publications and his evolution from gregarious social activist to reclusive artist following his withdrawal from public life in 1951. The memoir concludes that Klein's synthesis of Jewish identity with Anglo-Saxon literary culture represents a unique historical moment unlikely to be replicated, positioning him as both the first and potentially last poet of his particular cultural configuration. His legacy encompasses significant contributions to Canadian, Jewish, and international literature through his mastery of allusion, translation, and multicultural poetic expression.

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Published 1972
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S. Levi