Everyday Jews: Scenes from a Vanished Life
Publisher: Yale University Press
When Everyday Jews was first published in Poland in 1935, the Jewish Left was scandalized by the sex scenes, and Isaac Bashevis Singer complained that the novel was too bleak to be psychologically credible. Yet within two years Perle's novel was heralded as a modern Yiddish masterpiece. Capturing on a single palette the blend of raw sexuality and romantic love, thwarted desire and spiritual longing, Everyday Jews is now considered Perle's consummate achievement.The voice of Mendl, the novel's twelve-year