Менахем-Мендл (повесть в письмах)

by Sholom Aleichem, Шолом-Алейхем, Михаил Абрамович Шамбадал (Translator)

Menahem-Mendl is one of Sholom Aleichem's richest characterizations. An incurable optimist, whose every venture ends in disaster, he is the perennial Luftmensch who never ceases to build castles in the air.

The exchange of letters between Menahem-Mendl, trying his luck in the bigger cities of Czarist Russia, and his wife, who remains behind in a small town in the hinterlands, relates his hilarious, but frustrating, experiences as he seeks his fortune-first as a currency and stock speculator (who cannot speculate), as a matchmaker (who cannot arrange marriages), as an author (who cannot write), and as an agent (who buys what he cannot sell).

As his hopes repeatedly rise only to vanish in smoke, as he becomes involved with rascals and rogues, rich men and poor, the reader is at once amused and astounded by the predicaments in which he becomes entangled. But no more so than his long-suffering, ever-faithful wife, Sheineh-Sheindl -- scolding and querulous, but ever ready to succor him in his most desperate moments.

In re-creating a vanished way of life with warmth and considerable verve, the book reflects the eternal human condition, equally true and meaningful today. "The adventures of Menahem-Mendl" is a memorable achievement-a masterwork by an eminent figure of world literature.

Genres: Fiction, Jewish, Russia, Humor

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 1969

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

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Наконец, закончила книгу. Конечно, я уже очень отвыкла от такого ретро-стиля повествования. Вся книга — переписка реба Менахем-Мендла с женой Шейной-Шейндл. Бедный еврей поехал на заработки, приехал в Одессу, поработал там, ничего не заработал, потом поехал в Киев. Он конечно бросается на любую работу, где обещают золотые горы и ничего не нужно делать, и в итоге только в минус выходит, но вот-вот... А жена его проклинает на чем свет стоит и просит вернуться домой. Это бесконечная история, диалог слепого с глухим. Такой себе еврейский Гоголь. Очень интересно вылавливать эпизоды про быт дореволюционного Киева. Хотя мне, конечно, хотелось именно про евреев почитать.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are my people. Not literally, but these kinds of tales are where I'm coming from. I look forward to reading more stories by Sholom Aleichem someday, baby.

[Laurent Szklarz]

The style and the Jewish humor is undeniably there, but after a while, the character loses my sympathy and falls into an boring and pathetic cliche

[Dorothy Himberc · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, these stories of an itinerant 19th-century Jewish man in present-day Ukraine give a happy-go-lucky and naif impression. At the same time, the rather violently expressed affection of Menahem-Mendl's wife (stranded in the provinces with their children) and his neglect of his family lend conflict and ambiguity to the plot. But as the tales of Menahem-Mendl's doomed attempts to find a lucrative profession in the city are spun on in a repetitive cycle of enthusiasm and disappointment, the more the succession of failures bites deeply. In addition, anti-Semitic laws add risk to his travels (e.g. Jewish people were not permitted to live in certain areas). The Dreyfuss affair appears as a strange figment of real life amongst the fables. As desperation sinks in, Menahem-Mendl's principles begin to falter.

[Eitan Lapidus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Menachem Mendel, el fracasado más hermoso de la literatura judía.

[Arsen Lazursky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well enough written, but just not entirely my cup of tea.

[Volodymyr Brodskyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Читал, флешбеки из 90х ловил.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun

[anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

2x reread this for a class i’m teaching, still wonderful and very funny.

[Ofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sholom Aleichem has always been one of my favorite authors. As a kid I read all his writings as translated by Isaac Dov Berkowitz at the beginning of the 20th century. Well, we are now in the 21st century and there is a new translation of Menachem Mendel, one of Sholom Aleichem most memorable novel, by Beni Mer and it is absolutely excellent. Highly recommended.