"This absorbing collection shows how everything changes when Jewish women are given a place at the center, not the margins, of Jewish literary tradition. Writing itself becomes a radical act, opening new cultural perspectives. This is a book to be savored and admired; it will surely have wide influence in the field."?Joyce Antler, author of Jewish Radical Feminism: Voices from the Women's Liberation Movement "This inspiring and groundbreaking collection of essays transforms our understanding of American Jewish literature by tracing women's impact from the early part of the twentieth century to the present. Matrilineal Dissent reveals the crucial role women played in creating and sustaining a literary community. A literary feast, the volume highlights women's contributions to a wide range of genres from poetry, fiction, plays, autobiography, to graphic literature. Rather than focusing on the same few writers found in earlier collections and anthologies, here the focus is on authors we are less likely to know and yet should know. A must-read for anyone teaching Jewish American literature or who wants to know more about Jewish women's contributions to literary history.

"?Laura Leibman, William R. Kenan Professor of English and Humanities, Reed College, and president of the Association for Jewish Studies " Matrilineal Dissent is an extraordinarily smart collection, from the brilliant title all the way through the capacious essays. It will be an asset to scholars and lovers of all types of art alike."?Jennifer Caplan, associate professor and Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati Chair in Judaic Studies, University of Cincinnati.