'Carefully and lovingly edited ...The scholarship is impeccable, and the contributors all serious scholars.' S. Gittleman, Choice 'One the book's best attributes is the ability of its contributors to place their subjects within larger European contexts ...the calibre of the contributions is high, demonstrating the degree to which Yiddish theatre is attracting the attention of serious scholars ...[the book] succeeds not only in its goal of presenting some of the most important new scholarship on Yiddish theatre, but more importantly in helping to bring the study of this integral component of Jewish culture into wider academic circles and into a more complex scholarly discourse.' Jeffrey Veidlinger, Shofar 'A landmark in the field of Yiddish cultural history ...a thought-provoking book, which will hopefully inspire new collective volumes and monographs.' Gennady Estraikh, East European Jewish Affairs 'A stimulating and encouraging book that I am happy to recommend to the specialist and the curious reader alike.'
Yana Meerzon, Modern Language Review This book considers Yiddish theatre from a number of aspects: its historical development, its popular and critical reception, and the practice and consequences of state censorship. Its coverage ranges from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century and extends to locations as diverse as Cracow, London, Moscow, New York, St Petersburg, Vienna, and Warsaw. Yiddish Theatre not only presents a wide-ranging study of the field but also helps illustrate the significance of Yiddish theatre as a vital form of expression in the Jewish world: it has not only provided entertainment for audiences on six continents, but has also highlighted the social, political, religious, and economic concerns that Jews considered of vital interest. Yiddish Theatre is a valuable resource for scholars, university students, and general readers interested both in Yiddish theatre specifically and related fields such as Jewish literature and culture, east European history and culture, and European and American theatre. The book contains an extensive bibliography of sources relating to all aspects of Yiddish theatre.
Contributors: Ahuva Belkin, Joel Berkowitz, Paola Bertolone, Miroslawa M. Bulat, Brigitte Dalinger, Barbara Henry, John Klier, David Mazower, Leonard Prager, Nahma Sandrow, Nina Warnke, Seth L. Wolitz
