The History of Yiddish Literature in the Nineteenth CenturyWiener, Leo
History
The History of Yiddish Literature in the Nineteenth Century
Wiener, Leo
Yiddish literature -- History and criticism
In 1893 Krantz and Sharkansky started a monthly magazine, _The City
Guide_, but only two numbers of it appeared. Two years later Winchevsky
began issuing in Boston _The Emeth_, a weekly family paper for
literature and culture. It is a pity it was stopped before the year was
out, for of all the magazines that have seen daylight in America, it was
by far the most ably edited. Among his contributors of belles lettres
we find the names of the authors just mentioned, and also several
others. Nearly everything else is from the pen of the editor. While in
many of the leaders his socialistic bias is pronounced, yet most of his
articles deal with subjects of a general interest. Of his poetry we have
spoken before. His prose style is even better. It is smooth, idiomatic,
and carefully balanced. He is one of the few authors who bestow great
care on a good Judeo-German style, and file and finish it. Most
interesting are his epigrams and philosophical reflections, and his
satirical sketches, which he generally ascribes to the 'Insane
Philosopher.' Winchevsky has been very productive. Outside of his many
original stories and sketches, his poetry, and sociological articles, he
has translated a number of works, among others the Russian Korolenko and
Victor Hugo's 'Les Misérables.' His translations are the very best in
the Judeo-German language. Few have equalled him in the art of
translation. The distinguishing characteristics of all his productions
are dignity and refinement. Although he frequently depicts Jewish life,
the Jew is but an accident of his themes, for he has ever in mind the
social questions at large, as they affect the whole world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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