The portrayal of Jews in modern Biełarusian literature / Zina J. Gimpelevich.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gimpelevich, Zina J., 1949- author.

Contributor:

Anne and Joseph Trachtman Memorial Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Belarusian literature--20th century--History and criticism.

Belarusian literature.

Jews in literature.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

xii, 479 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Montreal ; Chicago : McGill-Queen's University Press, [2018]

Summary:

"One of the notable distinctions of Biełarusian authors, compared to other writers in Slavic literatures, is their depiction of Jewish characters as natives to the land. The Jewish population in historic Biełarusian territories was the country's largest minority, and Yiddish was one of the state languages of Biełarus between 1919 and 1938. The Portrayal of Jews in Modern Biełarusian Literature sheds light on this little-known yet important part of Slavic and Jewish studies. Zina Gimpelevich demonstrates that the works produced by Biełarusian writers over a long period of time display a more consistent tolerance and sympathy towards Jews than has generally been recognized. Beginning several centuries ago but concentrating on the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, she offers excerpts - and textual and comparative analyses - of works by Biełarusian poets, novelists, and dramatists, most of whom have not been previously translated into English. Each writer is discussed in terms of their socio-political background, and the country's history during the period in which they lived and wrote. Biełarusian literature influenced and enlightened public consciousness since the middle of the sixteenth century, despite the destructive actions of its many rulers. The Portrayal of Jews in Modern Biełarusian Literature offers deep insights into how the region's Biełarusian, Jewish, and other cultures interacted over many centuries."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

1 The Portrayal of Jews in Modern Bielarusian Literature p. 3

2 The Creation of Bielarusian Jewish Characters from Kaetan Maraseuski's Comedy and Jakub Kolas's Antos Lata, Symon the Musician, and "Chajm Rybs" p. 46

3 Janka Kupala, Natalla Arsiennieva, and Maxim Tank: Addresses to Bielarusian Jews p. 83

4 Ciska Hartny (1887-1937): The Wilted Beauty of Bielarusian Literature p. 121

5 The Ingenious Michas Lynkou (1899-1975) p. 146

6 Did Viébic Change His Heart towards Bolsheviks and Jews? p. 181

7 Janka Bryl: My Best Friend Ziama p. 207

8 Jewish Themes as an Aspect of Uladzimir Karatkievic's Works: Shall Christ Come out of Galilee? (John 7:41) p. 233

9 Ryhor Baradulin: Concerning the Jews p. 272

10 Georgii Musievic: People Who Used to Live among Us: Dedicated to Jewish People Who Endured So Much Suffering p. 312.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Anne and Joseph Trachtman Memorial Book Fund.

Other Format:

Gimpelevich, Zina J., 1949-, author. Portrayal of Jews in modern Biełarusian literature./

ISBN:

9780773553170

0773553177

OCLC:

1013516901