When first published in 1945, [b:Focus|74049|Focus|Arthur Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1170847780l/74049._SX50_.jpg|71644] was one of the few pieces of fiction that explicitly shined a light on the very real rise of Anti-Semitism and bigotry on American shores, even while American troops were fighting fascist regimes overseas. Bigotry can rear its pernicious head in any community at any time; this was Arthur Miller’s point. That said, I would argue that Focus serves a greater role as a historical document, than it does as a relevant narrative for the modern era.

Overall, Miller treats the concept that “racism is bad” as this a jaw-dropping revelation, which in a present context is patronizingly insulting. In this day and age saying that "Anti-Semitism is bad" is obvious, not a bombshell illumination. This is compounded by the fact that Anti-Semitism is still alive and thriving in the United States, occurring in scale from casual micro-aggressions to outright assault in the case of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting of 2018.

Furthermore, I would argue that Miller is a far better playwright than he is a novelist. The loud and overly simplistic Focus lacks the nuance and affect of better work like [b:The Crucible|17250|The Crucible|Arthur Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1547467608l/17250._SX50_.jpg|1426723]. So, if you are a fan of Miller’s work, this one may fall out-of-focus for you (this is a dad pun my father insisted I include in this review, sorry). If you want to read about early works denouncing Anti-Semitism, then Focus is a document with historical merit. Otherwise, I’d say skip it for something more impactful like Elie Wiesel’s [b:Night|1617|Night (The Night Trilogy, #1)|Elie Wiesel|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575073611l/1617._SY75_.jpg|265616].

Rating: 2.5 stars