great jewish books
Clarice Lispector’s “Near to the Wild Heart:” A ‘Lush and Lucid’ First Novel
"Near to the Wild Heart" combines Lispector's Brazilian and Jewish roots into a modern masterpiece.
Excerpt: The Family Mashber by Der Nister (1939)
The first pages of "The Family Mashber" set the stage for what's to come. Take a look.
Der Nister’s “The Family Mashber:”A Perspective on Jewish Life in 1800s Europe
"The Family Mashber" is one of the greatest works of Yiddish literature.
Excerpt: Bread Givers by Anzia Yezierska (1925)
Anzia Yezierska's book explores the early 20th-century immigrant experience, and women's place in it.
Anzia Yezierska’s “Bread Givers:” A Lens on the Beehive of the Lower East Side
In "Bread Givers," her 1925 novel, Anzia Yezierska explored a world of pushcarts and tenements.
Leslie Epstein’s “King of the Jews:” A Controversial Exploration of Intra-Jewish Relations
Leslie Epstein's portrayal of Jews was not always well-received.