Self-Identity

Perhaps the most important theme of the collection is the theme of self-identity. Judt has penned this collection to record his thoughts and insights about the world and how he has fit into it. In order to do so, Judt must have a strong sense of self, particularly when discussing religion and culture. Judt went through many transitions when discovering his cultural identity. As a child, he was drawn to his father's European spirit, and mirrored his fanciful desires for Camembert, good wine, and French cars, despite the rationing during wartime. As a teenager, Judt, who was born Jewish, moved to Israel and joined a kibbutz hoping to get back to his cultural background. He quickly learned that extreme Zionism did not appeal to him and he moved to Cambridge, England, to complete his studies in Eastern European history. While going through his "midlife crisis," Judt learned to...