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Fishke the Lame
Hardcover
Classic FictionGeneral Fiction
ISBN13: 9781025378497
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 230
Weight: 1.10
Height: 0.56 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Fishke the Lame is a seminal work of Jewish literature and a cornerstone of modern Yiddish prose. Set against the backdrop of the Pale of Settlement in 19th-century Russia, the novel follows the journey of Fishke, a disabled bathhouse attendant, and a diverse cast of itinerant beggars and outcasts. Through the eyes of its titular character and the recurring narrator Mendele the Bookseller, the story unfolds as a poignant and satirical exploration of social hierarchy, poverty, and human resilience within the Jewish community.
Combining sharp social critique with deeply felt realism, the narrative exposes the underworld of Jewish life, depicting the struggles and moral complexities of those living on the margins of society. The work is celebrated for its rich characterizations and its masterful use of humor and pathos to address the systemic challenges of the shtetl. As a defining masterpiece by Mendele Mocher Seforim, the grandfather of Yiddish literature, Fishke the Lame offers a vivid window into a vanished world, blending folklore, allegory, and profound humanism. This narrative remains a vital cultural document, capturing the essence of the Jewish experience with unmatched wit and empathy.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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