The Art of Biblical Narrative
Contributors
By Robert Alter
Buy from Other Retailers:
- On Sale
- Nov 3, 2026
- Page Count
- 272 pages
- Publisher
- Basic Books
- ISBN-13
- 9781541609273
“A groundbreaking study that encourages us to look beneath the theological surface of the biblical text to glimpse its beating heart.” —Los Angeles Times
Winner of the National Jewish Book Award
In The Art of Biblical Narrative, renowned critic and translator Robert Alter radically expands our view of the Bible by recasting it as a work of literary art deserving studied criticism. Alter describes how the Hebrew Bible’s many authors used innovative literary techniques—from dialogue to artful repetition to recurrent motifs—to tell one of the greatest stories of all time: the revelation of a single God. In so doing, Alter shows, these writers reshaped not only history, but also the art of storytelling itself.
Now updated with a new preface, The Art of Biblical Narrative is an indispensable contribution to biblical and literary scholarship alike.
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Winner of the National Jewish Book Award for Jewish Thought
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"A groundbreaking study that encourages us to look beneath the theological surface of the biblical text to glimpse its beating heart."Jonathan Kirsch, Los Angeles Times
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"[An] admirable book....It is truly extraordinary that such familiar tales as those of Joseph and David should acquire so much detail and color, as if perfectly restored."New York Times
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"The results of [Alter's] work give the Bible a fresh voice for a new generation of readers."Christian Science Monitor
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"This clearly written book should please anyone interested in the fundamentals of storytelling."The Washington Post
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"In its day, “The Art of Biblical Narrative” was subversive. … The book was — and remains — a surprise hit; it opened up an old, mysterious and often maligned text for the first time to many readers. And though academic critics have argued with Alter’s approach, they have never been able to ignore it."New York Times
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