SOURCE: "I. B. Singer," in Encounter, Vol. 26, April, 1966, pp. 60-70.

In the following essay, Howe provides an overview of Singer's literary reputation, artistic influences, and central preoccupations as expressed in his fiction.

—Would it be fair to say that you are actually writing in a somewhat artificial or illusory context, as if none of the terrible things that have happened to the Jewish people during the last two decades really did occur?

SINGER: Yes, very fair, There was a famous philosopher, Vaihinger, who wrote a book called The Philosophy of "As If" in which he showed that we all behave "as if." The "as if" is so much a part of our life that it really isn't artificial…. Every man assumes he will go on living. He behaves as if he will never die. So I wouldn't call my attitude artificial. It's very natural and healthy. We have...