The Assistant is one of the early works by Jewish American writer Bernard Malamud. It has been listed as one of one hundred best English-language novels from 1923 to present, which manifests its importance in the literary field.

• 本文研究的小说《店员》(亦可翻译为《伙计》)是美国犹太作家伯纳德·马拉默德的早期作品之一,此小说被美国《时代》周刊列为1923至今的百部最佳小说之一,这充分说明该小说的地位和作用。