I. L. Peretz and the Making of Modern Jewish Culture

Anyone interested in Jewish literature, history, or politics will find Wisse’s scholarly study of Peretz’s life and ideas and her analysis of his stories fascinating reading.

Wisse adeptly combines literary commentary with biographical and cultural materials. . . . She has made a valuable contribution by reinterpreting Peretz’s literary output in its cultural, political, and historical framework.

In her well-written and insightful volume, Ruth Wisse has prepared a masterful examination of Peretz’s thought and achievement. By integrating the story of his life with an extensive analysis of the major themes of his work, Wisse demonstrates Peretz’s influence on the formation of Yiddish literature.

I. L. Peretz and the Making of Modern Jewish Culture is not only about Peretz’s creations, but a key to the understanding and love of Yiddish life in its totality.