The canonical generation: Trapped between personal and national memories

This article develops the concept of the 'canonical generation' - a generational unit that identifies itself and is identified with the national canon. By highlighting this concept we explore the inter-relations between national and biographical memories. We illustrate how generations are distinguishable in terms of the freedom they have to express their critical and personal voices. Our analysis is based on a comparison of two sets of Jewish-Israeli war stories, those of the 1948 generation (veterans of 'the War of Independence') and those of the 1973 generation (veterans of 'the Yom Kippur War').