Cultural Zionism through the Novels of Leon Uris

Literature is a carrier of culture and history. This can be revealed in the corroborative evidence that can be extracted from historical events when they are compared to what have been found in the novels. The thesis makes it clear that the success of the novels as carriers of history depends on the writers'' tendencies and highlights the fact that the writers have to strive for accuracy and credibility of their novels to be accepted as valid and reliable sources of history. In the meantime valid historical novels should reflect the factual background of a particular period or race. The thesis asserts that it is necessary for historical novelists to put history in its proper place to give the readers an opportunity to apprehend and evaluate historical facts. History should help them appreciate that they are not in any way different from other people in the world around them.