Tomeki
Cover of Nister's Soviet Years

Nister's Soviet Years

Yiddish Writer As Witness to the People

By Mikhail Krutikov

0 (0 Ratings)
0 Want to read0 Currently reading0 Have read

Publish Date

2019

Publisher

Indiana University Press

Language

eng

Pages

296

Description:

"In Der Nisters Soviet Years, author Mikhail Krutikov focuses on the second half of the dramatic writing career of Soviet Yiddish writer Der Nister, pen name of Pinhas Kahanovich (1884-1950). Krutikov follows Der Nisters painful but ultimately successful literary transformation from his symbolist roots to social realism under severe ideological pressure from Soviet critics and authorities. This volume reveals how profoundly Der Nister was affected by the destruction of Jewish life during WWII and his own personal misfortunes. While Der Nister was writing a history of his generation, he was arrested for anti-government activities and died tragically from a botched surgery in the Gulag. Krutikov illustrates why Der Nisters work is so important to understandings of Soviet literature, the Russian Revolution, and the catastrophic demise of the Jewish community under Stalin"--