Edward Lewis Wallant remains an important but minor Jewish-American writer of post--World War II America -- one whose career was cut short by his death at age thirty-six, just as he had placed himself in a position to devote his full time and energy to his writing. His literary legacy includes four relatively short novels -- The Human Season (1960), The Pawnbroker (1961), The Tenants of Moonbloom (1963), and The Children at the Gate (1964) -- the last two published posthumously, and several stories, only three of which were published. These texts provide enough evidence of Wallant's fine developing artistic vision and talent to make one wonder where his career might have led. His most enduring legacy among the general public may be the 1965 film adaptation of The Pawnbroker, for which Rod Steiger won critical acclaim for his subtle but powerful portrayal of its protagonist, Sol Nazerman. The film's excellence inspired more...