Modern Jewish Literary Canon

In the book by a professor at Harvard University (USA), the works of Jewish prose writers of the 20th century are examined, revealing patterns of artistic method and common themes. Summarizing years of experience teaching Jewish literature, particularly literature in Yiddish, the author offers his approach to the unique phenomenon of multilingual national literature and demonstrates that the artistic dominance of a writer's work and their worldview depend on the language they choose.

Among the works examined are «Tevye the Dairyman» by Sholem Aleichem, «Red Cavalry» by Isaac Babel, «Life and Fate» by Vasily Grossman, «The Trial» by Franz Kafka, «Guest for One Night» by Sh. Y. Agnon, «Satan in Goray» by Isaac Bashevis Singer, «Diary» by Anne Frank, «Mr. Sammler's Planet» by Saul Bellow, «Memoirs» by Y. Shabtai and much more.

Translator: Natalia Rokhlina, edited by Zoia Kopelman.