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Article: Was Bambi Jewish?(Arts & Letters)(Critical essay)
- Article from:
- Midstream
- Article date:
- January 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Theodor Herzl Foundation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Most people are familiar with the Disney movie of the story of Bambi, but few realize that the original book was probably written as an allegory about the situation of the Jews in Europe between the world wars.
First, a few quick facts about the book. The book was written in Vienna in 1923 by Felix Sahen. This was the pen name for Sigmund Salzmann, a Jewish writer, born in Budapest, who lived mostly in Vienna. The book was translated into English in 1928 by Whitaker Chambers, who was then a poor journalist. Later, of course, Chambers became famous for his denunciation of Alger Hiss in the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings that brought Richard Nixon ...