Peretz Markish (1895-1952), one of Eastern Europe’s most important Yiddish poets in the period between the two world wars, was a fiercely independent maverick who published work in all literary genres. Although emerging from the Kiev literary tradition, Markish always went his own way in a literary career spanning four decades and embracing almost all twentieth-century aesthetic movements. After the Revolution, he settled in Poland, but returned to be integrated more closely into Soviet culture than any other Yiddish writer of his generation, receiving the Order of Lenin. It did not save him from Stalin's show-trials of Jewish intellectuals, and he was executed in 1952, but as early as 1955 his writing was being rehabilitated in the Soviet press: a testament to his literary stature. His Yiddish works were widely translated into Russian and Ukrainian, establishing him as a major Russian writer of his times.
This new volume serves both as a companion to the life and works of Peretz Markish and as a source-book for future research. A biography and bibliography are combined with some twenty contributed essays by Peretz scholars, surveying the entire corpus of his work and all periods of his career.
Joseph Sherman was one of the world's foremost translators and critics of Yiddish literature, and a staunch supporter of Legenda's publishing work over many years. His sadly untimely death meant that this volume could not be issued in August 2009, as we had hoped. It will now be completed in his memory by his long-standing collaborator, Gennady Estraikh, who is Rauch Associate Professor of Yiddish Studies, New York University, and by Professor David Shneer of the University of Colorado at Boulder and Dr Jordan Finkin of St Cross College, Oxford.
Reviews:
‘This volume is not only the best study of Markish’s career available in English — it is the only one. And yet, one could not hope for a better treatment of its worthy subject... Given Markish’s signiicance to the development of Yiddish literature in Poland as well as the Soviet Union, there is no doubt that any scholar of Yiddish will consult these essays frequently and gratefully.’ — Marc Caplan, Slavonic and East European Review 92.2, April 2014, 321-23 (full text online)
Contents:
1-15
An Introduction. My Name is Now: Peretz Markish and the Literature of Revolution David Shneer
Shneer, David, ‘An Introduction. My Name is Now: Peretz Markish and the Literature of Revolution’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 1–15
First footnote reference:35 David Shneer, ‘An Introduction. My Name is Now: Peretz Markish and the Literature of Revolution’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 1–15, p. 21.
Shneer, David. 2011. ‘An Introduction. My Name is Now: Peretz Markish and the Literature of Revolution’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 1–15
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Shneer 2011: 21).
Chaver, Yael, ‘Jewish Radicalism: Hebrew in Peretz Markish’s Early Poetry’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 16–32
First footnote reference:35 Yael Chaver, ‘Jewish Radicalism: Hebrew in Peretz Markish’s Early Poetry’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 16–32, p. 21.
Chaver, Yael. 2011. ‘Jewish Radicalism: Hebrew in Peretz Markish’s Early Poetry’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 16–32
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Chaver 2011: 21).
Finkin, Jordan, ‘The Lighter Side of Babel: Peretz Markish’s Urban Poetics’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 33–49
First footnote reference:35 Jordan Finkin, ‘The Lighter Side of Babel: Peretz Markish’s Urban Poetics’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 33–49, p. 21.
Finkin, Jordan. 2011. ‘The Lighter Side of Babel: Peretz Markish’s Urban Poetics’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 33–49
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Finkin 2011: 21).
Glaser, Amelia, ‘“A Shout from Somewhere”: The Early Work of Peretz Markish’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 50–65
First footnote reference:35 Amelia Glaser, ‘“A Shout from Somewhere”: The Early Work of Peretz Markish’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 50–65, p. 21.
Glaser, Amelia. 2011. ‘“A Shout from Somewhere”: The Early Work of Peretz Markish’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 50–65
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Glaser 2011: 21).
Szymaniak, Karolina, ‘The Language of Dispersion and Confusion: Peretz Markish’s Manifestos from the Khalyastre Period’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 66–87
First footnote reference:35 Karolina Szymaniak, ‘The Language of Dispersion and Confusion: Peretz Markish’s Manifestos from the Khalyastre Period’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 66–87, p. 21.
Subsequent footnote reference:37 Szymaniak, p. 47.
Szymaniak, Karolina. 2011. ‘The Language of Dispersion and Confusion: Peretz Markish’s Manifestos from the Khalyastre Period’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 66–87
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Szymaniak 2011: 21).
Geller, Aleksandra, ‘Peretz Markish and Literarishe Bleter (1924–1926)’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 88–102
First footnote reference:35 Aleksandra Geller, ‘Peretz Markish and Literarishe Bleter (1924–1926)’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 88–102, p. 21.
Geller, Aleksandra. 2011. ‘Peretz Markish and Literarishe Bleter (1924–1926)’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 88–102
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Geller 2011: 21).
Wolitz, Seth L., ‘Markish’s Radyo (1922): Yiddish Modernism as Agitprop’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 103–13
First footnote reference:35 Seth L. Wolitz, ‘Markish’s Radyo (1922): Yiddish Modernism as Agitprop’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 103–13, p. 21.
Wolitz, Seth L.. 2011. ‘Markish’s Radyo (1922): Yiddish Modernism as Agitprop’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 103–13
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Wolitz 2011: 21).
Murav, Harriet, ‘Peretz Markish in the 1930s: Socialist Construction and the Return of the Luftmentsh’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 114–26
First footnote reference:35 Harriet Murav, ‘Peretz Markish in the 1930s: Socialist Construction and the Return of the Luftmentsh’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 114–26, p. 21.
Murav, Harriet. 2011. ‘Peretz Markish in the 1930s: Socialist Construction and the Return of the Luftmentsh’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 114–26
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Murav 2011: 21).
Kotlerman, Ber Boris, ‘Markish’s play The Ovadis Family and Soviet Jewish Policies, 1936–1941’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 127–38
First footnote reference:35 Ber Boris Kotlerman, ‘Markish’s play The Ovadis Family and Soviet Jewish Policies, 1936–1941’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 127–38, p. 21.
Subsequent footnote reference:37 Kotlerman, p. 47.
Kotlerman, Ber Boris. 2011. ‘Markish’s play The Ovadis Family and Soviet Jewish Policies, 1936–1941’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 127–38
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Kotlerman 2011: 21).
Shneer, David, ‘Rivers of Blood: Peretz Markish, the Holocaust, and Jewish Vengeance’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 139–56
First footnote reference:35 David Shneer, ‘Rivers of Blood: Peretz Markish, the Holocaust, and Jewish Vengeance’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 139–56, p. 21.
Shneer, David. 2011. ‘Rivers of Blood: Peretz Markish, the Holocaust, and Jewish Vengeance’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 139–56
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Shneer 2011: 21).
Veidlinger, Jeffrey, ‘The Pen and the Sword: The Wartime Plays of Peretz Markish’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 157–71
First footnote reference:35 Jeffrey Veidlinger, ‘The Pen and the Sword: The Wartime Plays of Peretz Markish’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 157–71, p. 21.
Subsequent footnote reference:37 Veidlinger, p. 47.
Veidlinger, Jeffrey. 2011. ‘The Pen and the Sword: The Wartime Plays of Peretz Markish’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 157–71
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Veidlinger 2011: 21).
Example footnote reference:35 Veidlinger 2011: 21.
Estraikh, Gennady, ‘Anti-Nazi Rebellion in Peretz Markish’s Drama and Prose’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 172–85
First footnote reference:35 Gennady Estraikh, ‘Anti-Nazi Rebellion in Peretz Markish’s Drama and Prose’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 172–85, p. 21.
Estraikh, Gennady. 2011. ‘Anti-Nazi Rebellion in Peretz Markish’s Drama and Prose’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 172–85
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Estraikh 2011: 21).
Kronfeld, Chana, ‘Murdered Modernisms: Peretz Markish and the Legacy of Soviet Yiddish Poetry’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 186–206
First footnote reference:35 Chana Kronfeld, ‘Murdered Modernisms: Peretz Markish and the Legacy of Soviet Yiddish Poetry’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 186–206, p. 21.
Kronfeld, Chana. 2011. ‘Murdered Modernisms: Peretz Markish and the Legacy of Soviet Yiddish Poetry’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 186–206
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Kronfeld 2011: 21).
Saltzman, Roberta, ‘A Bibliography of Peretz Markish’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 207–27
First footnote reference:35 Roberta Saltzman, ‘A Bibliography of Peretz Markish’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 207–27, p. 21.
Saltzman, Roberta. 2011. ‘A Bibliography of Peretz Markish’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 207–27
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Saltzman 2011: 21).
Wolitz, Seth L., ‘Appendix: A Yiddish Modernist Dirge: Di Kupe of Peretz Markish’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 228–41
First footnote reference:35 Seth L. Wolitz, ‘Appendix: A Yiddish Modernist Dirge: Di Kupe of Peretz Markish’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), pp. 228–41, p. 21.
Wolitz, Seth L.. 2011. ‘Appendix: A Yiddish Modernist Dirge: Di Kupe of Peretz Markish’, in A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 228–41
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Wolitz 2011: 21).
Sherman, Joseph, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin, and David Shneer (eds), A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011)
First footnote reference:35A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), ed. by Joseph Sherman, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin and David Shneer, Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda, 2011), p. 21.
Subsequent footnote reference:37 Sherman, Estraikh, Finkin, and Shneer, p. 47.
Sherman, Joseph, Gennady Estraikh, Jordan Finkin, and David Shneer (eds). 2011. A Captive of the Dawn: The Life and Work of Peretz Markish (1895-1952), Studies In Yiddish, 9 (Cambridge: Legenda)
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Sherman, Estraikh, Finkin, and Shneer 2011: 21).
Example footnote reference:35 Sherman, Estraikh, Finkin, and Shneer 2011: 21.
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