The Podolian Nights

Nachman of Bratslav

ISBN 10: 180533123X / ISBN 13: 9781805331230

Published by Pushkin Press, GB, 2025

About this Item

Nachman of Bratslav, descended from the founder of the Hasidic movement, carved a unique path as a Jewish spiritual leader. Towards the end of his life, he lost his young son, prompting him to turn increasingly inward and seek consolation from the world of the creative imagination.The result was the thirteen fascinating tales in this collection. A landmark in Jewish literature, they depict a surreal world where princes bleed jewels and princesses sail the seas in men's clothing, leaving destruction in their wake. In a sparkling new translation, Nachman's skewed fables reveal strange and profound depths, prefiguring the modern sensibilities of Gogol and Kafka.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781805331230

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Podolian Nights
• Publisher: Pushkin Press, GB
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 180533123X
• ISBN 13: 9781805331230
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Lively new translations of the surreal, strangely modern tales of Nachman of Bratslav, a landmark of Jewish literature

Nachman of Bratslav, descended from the founder of the Hasidic movement, carved a unique path as a Jewish spiritual leader. Towards the end of his life, he lost his young son, prompting him to turn increasingly inward and seek consolation from the world of the creative imagination.

The result was the thirteen fascinating tales in this collection. A landmark in Jewish literature, they depict a surreal world where princes bleed jewels and princesses sail the seas in men's clothing, leaving destruction in their wake. In a sparkling new translation, Nachman's skewed fables reveal strange and profound depths, prefiguring the modern sensibilities of Gogol and Kafka.

Part of the Pushkin Press Classics series: timeless storytelling by icons of literature, hand-picked from around the globe.<

Translated by Robert Adler Peckerar and Jordan Finkin

Nachman of Bratslav (1772-1811) was the great-grandson of Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism. Born in the small town of Medzhybizh in Ukraine, he initially refused to carry on the family tradition of Jewish spiritual leadership. After a spiritually important trip to Israel, he returned to Ukraine and eventually moved to Bratslav. Nachman attracted many followers in his lifetime, including the young Torah scholar Nathan Sternhartz, who went on to transcribe Nachman's formal teachings, as well as the imaginative tales that make up The Podolian Nights.

About the Author

Nachman of Bratslav (1772-1811) was the great-grandson of Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism. Born in the small town of Medzhybizh in Ukraine, he initially refused to carry on the family tradition of Jewish spiritual leadership. After a spiritually important trip to Israel, he returned to Ukraine and eventually moved to Bratslav. Nachman attracted many followers in his lifetime, including the young Torah scholar Nathan Sternhartz, who went on to transcribe Nachman's formal teachings, as well as the imaginative tales that make up The Podolian Nights.