(originally titled Homage to Blenholt ) is the second novel in Daniel Fuchs's acclaimed Williamsburg Trilogy . The 2020 Spanish edition by Automática Editorial presents this work as a sharp, tragicomic portrait of Jewish immigrant life in Brooklyn during the Great Depression. Narrative Summary
The central event is Max’s obsession with attending the funeral of , the local Commissioner of Sewers and a petty criminal whom Max venerates as a "hero" who actually achieved power and success. His quest to pay tribute to this man becomes a bittersweet exploration of his own lack of purpose and the crushing reality of his surroundings. Key Themes & Style (originally titled Homage to Blenholt ) is the
The story follows , an idealistic "schlemiel" living in a crowded Williamsburg tenement. Max spends his days dreaming of escape through absurd get-rich-quick schemes, such as bottling onion juice, while earning a meager twelve dollars a week. His quest to pay tribute to this man
: Fuchs explores the "spiritual vacuum" of 1930s America, where the Hollywood-fueled dreams of immigrants often crashed into the bleak reality of tenement life. : Fuchs explores the "spiritual vacuum" of 1930s