A translation of two comic novels by the Yiddish writer Sholem Aleichem (1859-1916). "The Letters of Menakhem-Mendl and Sheyne-Sheyndl" portrays a tumultuous marriage through letters exchanged between the title character, an itinerant bumbler seeking his fortune in the cities of Russia before departing alone for the New World, and his scolding wife who becomes increasingly fearful, jealous and mystified. "Motl, Peysi the Cantor's Son" is the first-person narrative of a mischievous and keenly observant boy who emigrates with his family from Russia to America. The final third of the story takes place in New York, making this Sholem Aleichem's only major work to be set in the United States. Motl and Menakhem-Mendl are in one sense opposites - the one a clear-eyed child and the other a pathetically deluded adult. Yet both are ideal conveyors of the comic disparity of perception on which humour depends. If Motl sees more than do others around him, Menakhem-Mendl has an almost infinite capacity for seeing less. Sholem Aleichem endows each character with an individual comic voice to tell in his own way the story of the collapse of traditional Jewish life in modern industrial society as we
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Editorial Reviews
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Halkin's translations and introduction are of the high quality one has come to expect from him -- Choice
About the Author
Hillel Halkin is a widely respected translator of Yiddish and Hebrew and a frequent contributor to Commentary, The Forward, and The Jerusalem Post.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Engaging new translation,
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This review is from: The Letters of Menakhem-Mendl, Sheyne-Sheyndl and Motl. the Cantor's Son (Hardcover)
I enjoyed this translation of the Letters & Motl tremendously! Motl especially has stayed close to what I hope the original Yiddish serial is like. In any case, this translation is by far the better translation when you compare it to the one done by Aleichem's granddaughter, who 'cleaned' hers up much too much in English. Yiddish is a rolicking, (potentially) earthy language, & this edition has kept that spirit.I'd love to see more new translations of Aleichem's works-- hopefully this is a trend that will keep going!
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not a success,
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This review is from: The Letters of Menakhem-Mendl, Sheyne-Sheyndl and Motl. the Cantor's Son (Hardcover)
I've heard that Shalom Aleichem has a great verbal dexterity in the original Yiddish. I have no reason to doubt it, but I have to take it on faith. I also have no complaints about the translation. If the language is not as playful as, say, S.J. Perelman or better episodes of "Moonlighting," well, what do I expect, it's a translation.
These novels are not complete failures, but I did not get caught up in them at all, and they kept reminding me of better works. Menachem-Mendl and Motl's family's schemes are so transparently hare-brained and sometimes not quite above board that there was little suspense or sympathy from me. Think Angel from "The Rockford Files," but denser. The second half of "Motl" (in America) may be of some sociological interest, but it constantly reminded me of the far superior "The Rise of David Levinsky." If you like Shirley Temple movies, you may find this similarly charming.
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Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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truly faithful wife, life ensurance, bagel maker, woman with the wig, old sea hand, fondest greetings, pleasing news, grand mood, barley beer, few rubles, running the border Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Big Motl, Ella's Island, Reb Osher, Fraulein Seitchik, Prince Albert, Big Meks, Hook Nose, Tshahli Tsheplin, Reb Menakhem-Mendl, Little Motl, Uncle Menashe, Red Sea, Fat Pesye, God Almighty, Moyshe-Nisl Kimbek, That's Elye, That's Brokheh, Yom Kippur, That's Pinye, Kasrilevke Jews, Greek Street, Long Cape, Leybe Lebelski, Rich Yosi Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Surprise Me!
truly faithful wife, life ensurance, bagel maker, woman with the wig, old sea hand, fondest greetings, pleasing news, grand mood, barley beer, few rubles, running the border Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Big Motl, Ella's Island, Reb Osher, Fraulein Seitchik, Prince Albert, Big Meks, Hook Nose, Tshahli Tsheplin, Reb Menakhem-Mendl, Little Motl, Uncle Menashe, Red Sea, Fat Pesye, God Almighty, Moyshe-Nisl Kimbek, That's Elye, That's Brokheh, Yom Kippur, That's Pinye, Kasrilevke Jews, Greek Street, Long Cape, Leybe Lebelski, Rich Yosi Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Surprise Me!
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