The Book of Daniel (1971) is semi-historical novel by E. L. Doctorow, loosely based on the trial and execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. Doctorow tells the story of Paul & Rochelle Isaacson (the Rosenbergs) through the person of their older son, Daniel and his sister, Susan, who are both students heavily involved in 1960s student politics.
| The Book of Daniel | |
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1st edition |
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| Author(s) | E. L. Doctorow |
| Original title | The Book of Daniel |
| Country | US |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Publication date | 1971 |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 303 |
| ISBN | 978-0812978179 |
| OCLC Number | 141385012 |
| LC Classification | PS3554.O3 B6 2007 |
Contents |
Writing his thesis ('The Book of Daniel') Daniel investigates the background to his parents' conviction and execution with his adoptive parents (the Lewins). The final dénouement is the revisiting, in flashback, of the death of his parents, and in due course the death from nervous disorder (and attempted suicide) of Daniel's sister. The novel closes with the library in which Daniel is working being closed by student unrest, and Daniel closing his work with a parody of lines from Chapter 12 of the Biblical Book of Daniel.
The book is written in four parts, and in each Daniel is the principal narrator; the narrative moves fluidly and rapidly between 1967 ('the present') and flashback (to the late 40s/early 50s), and between first and third person:-
The book was subsequently (1983) made into a film, Daniel, directed by Sidney Lumet. Lumet somewhat changes the emphasis of the novel, to concentrate more on 1940s left-wing politics of the parents. This was an era which Lumet had close personal experience of - however, the film is generally less well-regarded than the book.
Neither the book nor the film make direct reference to the Rosenberg events (though Lumet did claim that the execution scene was 'as it happened').
In particular the introduction of Susan as the younger child, and her lingering death, is a clear attempt to distance the novel from being considered biographical, as the Rosenbergs had two sons.
Other key differences include - Rochelle is a graduate, Paul is not - (this is the reverse of the Rosenberg case, but perhaps makes for a stronger delineation of Rochelle's character). Mindish appears to be a fusion of two characters, Morton Sobell and David Greenglass.
A key scene (in part 1), is the family's attendance at the Robeson concert at Peekskill (1949); in the novel Paul leaves the bus to argue with the right-wing protesters and is violently set upon by them.
Another key scene has Daniel taking part in the 1967 anti-Vietnam war march on the Pentagon.
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