Synopses & Reviews
This collection of interrelated stories about a sixteenth-century Prague rabbi and the golem he created became an immediate bestseller upon its publication in 1909. So widely popular and influential was Yudl Rosenbergand#8217;s book, it is no exaggeration to claim that the author transformed the centuries-old understanding of the creature of clay and single-handedly created the myth of the golem as protector of the Jewish people during times of persecution.
In addition to translating Rosenbergand#8217;s classic golem story into English for the first time, Curt Leviant also offers an introduction in which he sets Rosenbergand#8217;s writing in historical context and discusses the golem legend before and after Rosenbergand#8217;s contributions. Generous annotations are provided for the curious reader.
The book is full of adventures, surprises, romance, suspense, mysticism, Jewish pride, and storytelling at its best. The Chief Rabbi of Prague, known as the Maharal, brings the golem Yossele to life to help the Jews fight false accusations of ritual murderand#151;the infamous blood libel. More human, more capable, and more reliable as a protector than any golem imagined before, Rosenbergand#8217;s Golem irrevocably changed one of the most widely influential icons of Jewish folklore.
Review
"Given the enduring attraction of the Golem myth to the Jewish and general public, this book is an important addition to the corpus of Jewish cultural texts in English translation." and#8212;Lewis Glinert, Dartmouth College
Review
"Thanks to an erudite and insightful introduction and adroit translation by Curt Leviant, English readers will, for the first time, be able to enjoy a book of wonderful tales describing the heroic and humorous deed of Yossele, 'the claymener goylem'."and#8212;Moshe Moskowitz, Midstream
Review
"This collection of Golem stories written in the early twentieth century by Yudl Rosenberg provides a valuable inside perspective on the shape of the legend."and#8212;Robert Alter, author of
Imagined CitiesAbout the Author
Curt Leviant is the prizewinning author or translator of more than two dozen books, including six critically acclaimed novels. His translations from theand#160;Yiddishand#160;include Isaac Bashevis Singerand#8217;s More Stories from My Fatherand#8217;s Court and five volumes of Sholom Aleichem collections. He has won the Wallant Award for his fiction and several national and international writing fellowships.