Full Description
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.
Contents
Introduction by Adam Kirsch
First Tale: Of the Loss of a Princess
Second Tale: Of a King and an Emperor
Third Tale: Of a Lame Man
Fourth Tale: Of a King who Decreed the Conversion of the Jews
Fifth Tale: Of a Prince of Jewels
Sixth Tale: Of a Humble King's Portrait
Seventh Tale: Of a King's Journey
Eighth Tale: Of a Rabbi and his Only Son
Ninth Tale: Of a Wise Man and a Simpleton
Tenth Tale: Of a Wealthy Merchant and a Poor Man
Eleventh Tale: Of a Prince and a Handmaid's Son
Twelfth Tale: Of a Master of Prayer
Thirteenth Tale: Of Seven Beggars
Translators' Note
