Classic Yiddish Stories of S. Y. Abramovitsh, Sholem Aleichem, and I. L. Peretz by S. Y. Abramovitsh, Sholem Aleichem, I. L. Peretz, Ken Frieden (Editor), Michael Wex (Translator)

From the Publisher

"Two novellas by S. Y. Abramovitsh open this collection of the best short works by three influential nineteenth-century Jewish authors, Abramovitsh's alter ego - Mendele the Book Peddler - introduces himself and narrates both The Little Man and Fishke the Lame. His cast of characters includes Isaac Abraham as tailor's apprentice, choirboy, and corrupt businessman; Mendele's friend Wine 'n' Candles Alter; and Fishke, who travels through the Ukraine with a caravan of beggars." "Sholem Aleichem's lively stories reintroduce us to Tevye, the gregarious dairyman, as he describes the pleasures of raising his independent-minded daughters. These are followed by short monologues in which Aleichem gives voice to unforgettable characters from Eastern Europe to the Lower East Side. Finally, I. L. Peretz's neo-hasidic tales draw on hasidic tradition in the service of modern literature." These stories provide an unsentimental look back at Jewish life in Eastern Europe. Although nostalgia occasionally colors their prose, the writers were social critics who understood the shortcomings of shtetl life. For the general reader, these translations breathe new life into the extraordinary worlds of Yiddish literature. The introduction, glossary and biographical essays contemporaneous to each author put those worlds into context, making the book indispensable to students and scholars of Yiddish culture.

Library Journal

Frieden (classic Yiddish fiction, Syracuse Univ.) showcases to superb effect the short fiction of Yiddish writing's three early masters. This anthology conveys the complex culture, difficult conditions, and rich spiritual lives of eastern European Jews in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Among the tales are selections from Sholem Aleichem's Tevye stories and I.L. Peretz's Hasidic stories. S.Y. Abramovitsh's "The Little Man" speaks in a passionate voice against materialism, corruption, and cynicism, while Aleichem's "Hodel" and "Chava" portray the problems of revolutionary life and intermarriage. Then there's Peretz's "The Shtrayml," which depicts a religion without spirit. A running theme is the struggle between the Hasidim and their opponents; the poverty and despair of the time are always present. However, the joys of love, charity, and devotion are strongly shown in Abramovitsh's "Fishke the Lame," Aleichem's "Joseph," and Peretz's "The Rebbe's Pipe." Especially noteworthy are the first translations of authors' memoirs by their contemporaries, which conclude the book. Frieden has done an excellent editing job, and the translators deserve applause for their meticulous work. Highly recommended for Jewish studies collections.-Gene Shaw, NYPL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents