ISBN: 1437963196 9781437963199

Category: Fiction / Anthologies (multiple authors)

Page count: 429

A unique and rich anthology of Yiddish folk tales that never before have been available in English. Reveals the enormous breadth and depth of Yiddish folk lit., from its roots to its full blossoming in the modern era. Standing at the intersection of the spoken folk tale and the European tradition of printed lit., the Yiddish folk lit. collected here provides a fascinating glimpse into 4 centuries of Jewish cultural life. Includes not only original tales, but Yiddish retellings of biblical stories, and unexpected examples of cultural osmosis, such as a Yiddish version of an Arthurian legend. Pious, funny, and somber, these works paint a beautiful portrait of the cherished continuity -- and remarkable diversity -- of Jewish culture expressed through Yiddish folk lit.