Adventures of Mottel the Cantor's Son

by Sholom Aleichem, Ilya Schor (Illustrator), Tamara Kahana (Translator)

"Mottel may have been a young demon to manage, but he is a pleasure to read about. Nothing daunts him. His spirit soars above the cruelties, the world has not grown any gentler since this book was written. Sholom Aleichem's wit and humanity enrich any age and any language."--"New York Times."

Genres: Fiction, Jewish, Humor, Novels, Judaism, Israel, Classics

356 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1907

About the author

Russian-born American humorist Sholem Aleichem or Sholom Aleichem, originally Solomon Rabinowitz, in Yiddish originally wrote stories and plays, the basis for the musical Fiddler on the Roof .

He wrote under the pen name, Hebrew for "peace be upon you."

From 1883, he produced more than forty volumes as a central figure in literature before 1890.

His notable narratives accurately described shtetl life with the naturalness of speech of his characters. Early critics focused on the cheerfulness of the characters, interpreted as a way of coping with adversity. Later critics saw a tragic side. Because of the similar style of the author with the pen name of Mark Twain, people often referred to Aleichem as the Jewish version of Twain. Both authors wrote for adults and children and lectured extensively in Europe and the United States.

Reviews

[Tijana]

Da li su ove priče Šaloma Alejhema u trenutku nastajanja bile namenjene deci? Ne bi reko. Da li je to 1965. zanimalo urednika Lastavice Ahmeta Hromadžića? Teško. I tako su dečica SFRJ, sve uz prigodno pismo Maksima Gorkog Alejhemu (u kome piše upravo o ruskom prevodu priča o Motlu koji je, opet, s ruskog na srpskohrvatski prevela Angelina Zubac) počašćena nizom crnohumornih satiričnih priča s nepouzdanim pripovedačem. Ne znam kako im je pritom bilo i od kog uzrasta počinje da se shvata ovako čemerna komika. Negde na sredini, na pola scene koja zaista uspešno balansira između jezivog i urnebesnog, neko je na margini lepim dečjim kurzivom zapisao LUDA KNJIGA.

Motl je kao Haklberi Fin, samo malo mlađi i još za nijansu-dve naivniji, a Alejhemov humor je gorči i crnji od Tvenovog. Tako nas Motl uverava da je beskrajno zabavno kad zbog očeve bolesti moraju da rasprodaju sve stvari iz kuće. Da je neviđena prednost biti siroče jer vas onda svi tetoše i mnogo lakše izbegnete batine. Da je raj na zemlji, u komšijskom vrtu. (Te stranice posvećene nabrajanju, opisivanju i razvrstavanju komšijskog voća prosto zrače posvećenom radošću poznavaoca i ljubitelja, koja dostiže vrhunac u rečenici "Ja imam dvije vrste šljiva u vrtu Menašea, ljekarskog pomoćnika".) Da se ne može zamisliti bolji "posao" nego kad dečaka pošalju da preko noći pazi dementnog starca kome usred noći padne na pamet da svog gosta POJEDE. Da je najveselija, najveća zamisliva avantura - otići s celom preostalom porodicom u Ameriku, na čelu s majkom koja, sasvim neobjašnjivo, stalno plače.

Alejhem je, kaže internet, pisao i drugu zbirku priča o Motlu i njegovim doživljajima u Americi, ali je umro ne završivši je. Ova se knjiga okončava grupnim polaskom za Ameriku, s notom nade i obećanja - jednako slabo utemeljenim kao i dotadašnje nade u uspeh i boljitak, ali uz sav optimizam detinjstva.

[Momčilo Žunić]

Rukuj oprezno! Smeh (ne) ustavlja da se stropoštaš u crninu i samo sa smehom nesputano ploviš po paklu kô u raju.

Rukuj oprezno! I da ti se knjiga doslovno ne raspadne u rukama i da sa njom ostaneš čitav.

Na policu uz "Tužne cirkusante".

[yoav · Rating 4 out of 5]

סיפור הגירתה של משפחה מרוסיה הקטנה (אוקראינה של היום) לאמריקה מעיניו של ילד צעיר. הסבל והתלאות מתובלים בהומור וטוב לב.
קראתי את תרגומו של אברהם יבין והשוויתי מדי פעם לתרגום של י.ד ברקוביץ׳ וההבדלים היו מעניינים, גם בשפה וגם בהבדלי מונחים (י.ד ברקוביץ הוסיף גם חלק שלא מופיע בתרגום החדש יותר) זהו ספרו האחרון של שלום עליכם שנפטר לפני סוף הכתיבה

[Anatoly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Yiddish humor. A mixture of tragedy and irony with a good laugh. Light in tone, though behind it we get a look at the hardships Jewish immigrants to America had to endure.

[Amitna104 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just too sad Shulem Aleichem couldn't finish this book. It is so full of heart, sad and funny at the same time. A masterpiece.

[Beka Altin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. How I wish he could have finished this wonderful little book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute tale of a little boy growing up in the shtetls of Russia and then immigrating to America

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have been better if Sholom Aleichem hadn't died before finishing!

[Michael Wechsler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few people can so richly capture the details and human idiosyncracies of character in so few and adeptly-chosen words as Sholem Aleichem. This book is no exception. My only negative criticism is that he didn't finish it due to death ; )

[Yuliia Mamonova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting insight on the lives of Jewish people during the persecution in the Soviet Union from the perspective of a young boy.

[Phil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Во вступительной статье, посвященной в большей части проблемам еврейского народа, их языка и культуры, приводится следующее изречение, которое в необходимом и достаточном объеме подготавливает к чтению повести: «Перевод с идиша. Написано до Катастрофы. [...] Когда-то эта книга считалась очень смешной. Может, у вас получится так ее прочитать...»
Как и в случае с «Тевье-молочником», посмеяться над происходящими с бедным Мотлом событиями мне не удалось. Хотя в оптимизм героя этой повести поверить проще — дети принимают невзгоды не так близко к сердцу, ведь они не способны (и не должны, и не могут) нести ответственность за свою жизнь, не говоря уж о жизни близких. Вообще, у этих повестей много общего — первое лицо, простота, безыскусность повествования, неопределенный финал и, главное, национальный колорит. «Море слез», выражаясь словами самого Мотла, с одной стороны, и неугасающая жизнестойкость — с другой. История древнего народа, подвергающегося гонениям на протяжении всего своего существования, но не сломленного ими и поныне, как мне представляется, и состоит из таких вот Тевье и Мотлов. И это грустно и не очень-то вдохновляюще — герои, конечно, каждый раз переживают невзгоды, но впереди их ждет не земля обетованная, а только новая порция неудач, избавление от которых большинство обретет лишь после смерти.
Все сказанное мною ранее о «Тевье-молочнике» в равной степени относится и к «Мальчику Мотлу». Грустное чтение — без просвета; от рекомендации воздержусь.

[Harry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sholem Aleichem was a beloved and successful Yiddish writer who portrayed Jewish life in the shtetl and in New York with light-hearted humor. Unfortunately, this English translation by his granddaughter, Tamara Kahana, fails to do justice to the Yiddish original. As Kahane herself notes, she has “ruthlessly sacrificed strange rhythms and exotic expressions … for the preservation of a normal child in abnormal circumstances.” But in her ruthlessness, Kahane has exorcized the flavor, humor and satire of her grandfather’s work. For the fear that the gentile reader may not understand certain words or expressions, she translates them into a sterile English that neither Jew nor gentile can comprehend (ex. Sabbath loaf, Passover booklet). Instead of Mother and Father, she certainly could have kept the original Mama and Papa (or Tata). Does anyone interested in reading Sholom Aleichem really need the words shul and gabbai translated into synagogue and sexton. Even if Kahane would have included a glossary, she could have retained some of the warmth of the Yiddish. The only things not anglicized were the names of the characters. Yet given the tenor of the translation, I wonder why Kahane did not change the title to “Adventures of Matthew, the Choirmaster’s son.”

[Ofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sholom Aleichem is a Jewish writer who was active around the turn of the 19th century. He wrote primarily about Jewish life in eastern Europe and today is remembered mainly for the musical Fiddler on the Roof. He was a prolific writer whose comedy, deeply rooted in tragedy, is a celebration of the human spirit. Mottel, written on his death bed and while incomplete, is a masterpiece.

[MAria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Очень легкая, интересная книга. Удивительно, как люди в любой ситуации не унывают и всегда надеются на лучшее. Повествование от лица девятилетнего мальчика придает книге особый шарм.

[Miroslav Tomek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skvělá dětská knížka nejen pro děti.

[Flora]

Enjoyed this. The plot doesn't wrap up nicely since Sholom Aleichem died before finishing, but that seems like a good metaphor for something.

[Polina Weisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The favorite book of my childhood and one of the best books of Sholom Aleichem

[Masha Bunina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Напоминает Манюню, но с еврейскими вайбами и написано мужчиной. Было симпатично, но бросила, не дочитала

[Marin · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first read it I was fascinated by it - I was a little teenager, I sympathised with the Motl's adventures and would have like to have the chance to travel abroad as well.
I knew very little about the author and the historical context - only the fact that my Jewish neighbours were emigrating because the life under a communist regime was tough.
Re-reading it now, I enjoyed remembering the story, but I found the quality of the writing average - more like a diary than a novel. Despite having much information, the characters are one-dimensional and we learn very little about their lives and the societies they encountered.

[Boris Shpitalnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

It good

It good

it's really good
it's really interesting
and I like how it's a good deal so
I'm glad I not this book

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart goes out to Mottel and the life he led, all the more so for his cheerfulness.

[Nathanial]

the 1953 translation by his granddaughter Tamara Kahana.

[Racheli Zusiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

ממש אהבתי. אנושי ומשעשע.