Gentleman's Agreement

Gentleman's Agreement is a bold and pioneering novel that confronts the quiet, insidious nature of antisemitism in postwar American society. The story follows Philip Schuyler Green, a respected journalist who poses as a Jewish man to research a magazine exposé on prejudice. What begins as an assignment quickly becomes a deeply personal awakening, as Green experiences firsthand the subtle social barriers, discrimination, and bigotry faced by Jews—even among so-called liberal circles. Set in New York City and Connecticut, the novel examines the complicity of silence, the discomfort of confrontation, and the moral costs of so-called "gentleman's agreements"—unspoken pacts that preserve exclusion without overt violence. As Green’s relationships strain under the weight of his deception and growing convictions, Hobson delivers a searing critique of tolerance without action. A bestseller and the basis for the Academy Award–winning 1947 film, Gentleman’s Agreement is a landmark work of American social fiction. Laura Z. Hobson’s incisive, courageous voice challenged readers to examine their own prejudices—and still resonates today.