A true American classic, Bernard Malamud's THE ASSISTANT is acknowledged as one of the award-wiing author's greatest works. In a novel distinguished by unparalleled emotional power and authenticity, Malamud draws a penniless Italian-American drifter with a troubled conscience an a violent personal history into the world of a Jewish grocer struggling to eke out a living in a crumbling Brooklyn neighborhood. In the despair--and ultimately in the love--of the grocer's beautiful but unfulfilled daughter, Frank Alpine finds the motivation to confront his past and seek his own redemption, even if it costs him everthing he has gained. Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly This new specialty-interest audio publisher is launching its line with two strong titles in addition to this one: Betrothed by S.Y. Agnon, read by Peter Waldren, and Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives by Susan Dworkin, read by Bess Myerson and Adam Grupper. Known especially for the craft of his short stories, Malamud (The Fixer; The Natural) published this novel in 1957. Frank Alpine is an Italian-American drifter who lands a job working for a humble Jewish grocer in Brooklyn. When he falls in love with the storekeeper's daughter, he is forced to reexamine his moral and spiritual beliefs. Guidall, one of audio's finest narrators, extracts a strong sense of atmosphere from Malamud's richly descriptive language. He throws himself into the many charged dialogue scenesAcomplete with the ethnic accents requiredAexpressing pathos and humility without overdramatizing. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Review "The clarity and concreteness of [Malamud's] style, the warm humanity over his people, the tender wit that keeps them first and compassionable, will delight many.... Mr. Malamud's people are memorable and real as rock." --William Goyen, The New York Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.