In this weeks The Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen and Howard Jacobson, discuss Howard's latest novel "hoWL" which explores antisemitism and Jewish fear in the world following the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. Howard and Nick discuss whether the recent rise in anti-Jewish sentiment in Britain represents a new wave of anti-Semitism or a reemergence of historical hatred that had been suppressed since the Holocaust.

Howard Jacobson argues that the attacks provided "permission" for anti-Semitic views to surface openly, particularly among university students and left-wing activists who - he claims - were celebrating Jewish deaths. The discussion also touched on the complex political situation in Israel and Palestine, with Howard defending his decision to use comedy in his novel rather than taking a more polemical approach, while acknowledging the difficult position many Jewish people now find themselves in when discussing Israeli policy. Howard explains a novel is not a protest march, but more of a song or a poem, and describes how comedy can be a brilliant tool for writers plumbing the darker themes of life.

Howard Jacobson has written 20 books, including 17 novels, and is a former winner of the Booker Prize. His latest novel is hoWL and is available now. Howard also writes his own Substack column, Streetwalking with Howard Jacobson

Nick Cohen's @NickCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond.

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