Customer Reviews

The Letters of Menakhem-Mendl, Sheyne-Sheyndl and Motl. the Cantor's Son

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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!

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.