Elijah's Violin and Other Jewish Fairy Tales [Paperback]

Howard Schwartz (Author), Linda Heller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 20, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0195092007 | ISBN-13: 978-0195092004

Tales of magic and wonder can be found in every phase of Jewish literature, from the sacred to the secular. The fairy tale in particular--set in enchanted lands and populated with a variety of human and supernatural beings, both good and evil--holds a very special place in the Jewish tradition. For in the fairy tale, where good and evil engage in a timeless struggle, we have a clear reflection of the Jewish world view, where faith in God can defeat the evil impulse. In Elijah's Violin, Howard Schwartz offers a sumptuous collection of thirty-six Jewish fairy tales from virtually every corner of the world. At once otherworldy and earthy, pious and playful, these celebrated tales from Morocco and India, Spain and Eastern Europe, Babylon and Egypt, illustrate not only their Jewish character but also their universality of themes. Invoking the biblical tale of David and Goliath, we read as King David defeats the giant by hovering above its spear in King David and the Giant. In the romantic tale of The Princess in the Tower, a variant of Rapunzel, we watch as the cautious King Solomon recognizes the vanity in trying to prevent Providence from taking place. And we see the religious nature of the quest for Elijah's violin in the title story. The successful completion of the king's quest enables the violin's imprisoned melodies, emblematic of the Jewish spirit, to be set free. Throughout this richly illustrated collection, one can find the quests and riddles of the traditional fairy tale along with the divine intervention that characterizes the Jewish fairy tale. Skillfully translated, these stories will captivate children and adults alike in which romance and magic become enchantingly entwined with faith, duty, and wisdom.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Good stories deserve retelling, and Scwartz tells them beautifully."--Jewish Chronicle

"Schwartz supplies a concise introduction and retells the stories in a plain and simple prose which serves them well. An exotic and varied collection, intriguingly illustrated by Linda Heller."--The Sunday Times (London)

"A fresh treasury--rediscovered and retold--of wonderful old tales new to English-speaking lovers of the ancient, the enthralling, the marvelous, the delightful, kings, emperors, witches, beggars, demons, princesses, dragons; but also Jews and rabbis and Sabbaths and sacral study....I rejoice in the splendor--imagination's bliss--of Howard Schartz's collection."--Cynthia Ozick

"Superb....Brimming with color and design....A treasure for all generations."--Peter Schram, The Melton Journal

"Exotic enchantment and timeless truth."--Jewish Journal

"In this era of 'realistic' children's literature, a new collection of fairy tales is to be celebrated. All [the stories] are timeless in their appeal to that part of us that seeks another world than the one we inhabit daily. Linda Heller's illustrations are the perfect accompaniment and will have most children (and adults) flipping pages ahead to 'get the story with the pictures.'"--St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"[These] are stories told by a gifted writer and poet to be read and savored, and to provide inspiration for other storytellers....Schwartz has given a new and powerful expression to the ancient voice of the traditional Jewish storyteller, a voice which deserves to be heard--and indeed needs to be heard--in our generation."--The Sagarin Review (The St. Louis Jewish Literary Journal)

About the Author

Howard Schartz is Professor of English Literature at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. He is the author of Lilian's Cave and Miriam's Tambourine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (October 20, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195092007
• ISBN-13: 978-0195092004
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #741,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Howard Schwartz is Professor of English at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He has published three books of poetry, and several books of fiction, including The Captive Soul of the Messiah and Adam's Soul. He has also edited a four-volume set of Jewish folktales, which includes Elijah's Violin & Other Jewish Fairy Tales, Miriam's Tambourine: Jewish Folktales from Around the World, Lilith's Cave: Jewish Tales of the Supernatural and, most recently, Gabriel's Palace: Jewish Mystical Tales. He has also edited three major anthologies: Imperial Messages: One Hundred Modern Parables, Voices Within the Ark: The Modern Jewish Poets (with Anthony Rudolf), and Gates to the New City: A Treasury of Modern Jewish Tales. His recent book, Reimagining the Bible: The Storytelling of the Rabbis, was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award for 1999. In addition, Schwartz has also published ten children's books, including The Diamond Tree (with Barbara Rush, which won the Sydney Taylor Book Award in 1992), Next Year in Jerusalem: 3000 Years of Jewish Tales (which won the National Jewish Book Award and the Aesop Award of the American Folklore Society, both in 1996), A Coat for the Moon (with Barbara Rush, which won Anne Izard Storyeller's Choice Award for 1998 and the 1999 Honor Title of the Storytelling World Awards, and The Day the Rabbi Disappeared: Jewish Holiday Tales of Magic (which won the National Jewish Book Award and The Aesop Prize of the American Folklore Society for 2000). His major book, Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism, won the National Jewish Book Award for 2005 in the category of Reference. Schwartz lives in St. Louis with his wife Tsila, a calligrapher, and his three children, Shira, Nathan and Miriam.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rare treat, February 26, 2001

By 

"lcwmcc" (VT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elijah's Violin and Other Jewish Fairy Tales (Paperback)

Howard Schwartz's Elijah's Violin will appeal to both those who love fairy tales and those who love Jewish folklore. The stories have elements of more familiar fairy tales - birds that speak, mute princesses, magic mirrors, love, fear, good, and evil. However, Jewish elements make the stories distinctive. King Solomon appears in several of the tales, as does Asmodeus, King of the Demons in Jewish folklore. Schwartz's retellings are deft and lyrical and Heller's art complements the stories beautifully. If you're looking to be transported to a palace made of water or wish to go on a journey with a pirate princess, look no farther than Elijah's Violin.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book!, December 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Elijah's Violin and Other Jewish Fairy Tales (Paperback)

I have read Elijah's Violin numerous times and think it is a wonderful ride through fairy tales and fantasy. Children will love this book, I have been reading it since the age of 7, and am still enjoying it to this day. I suppose I have a slight bias since the author is my father, but I still think it's a great book!