Edited by: Shirley Kaufman, Galit Hasan-Rokem, and Tamar Hess

Hebrew Feminist Poems from Antiquity to the Present. A Bilingual Anthology
Winner: Poetry Society Translation Prize
Poetry Book Society Recommended Translation, Spring 2000
Co-publication -The Feminist Press at City University of New York.
Price: £13.99

Author(s):

ReviewS:

'This is a very accessible way of telling the Holocaust story to today's teenagers. It focuses on young people doing what they always do whatever the circumstance: flirting, bending the rules, helping each other out, smuggling in illicit objects (in this case a collection of puppets that they can express their underlying anxieties with) though they are experiencing one of the twentieth century's most inhumane events. The black and white pencil drawings are beautifully done and very sensitive, yet with a cool edge deriving from today's best comic book illustration, and there are a number of touches of humour as well.'  Amazon review, 2010

'This wonderful book opened new poetic worlds to me.’
(Maxine Kumin, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet)

SUMMARY:

A unique volume of 100 poems by 50 writers with new material and translations that illuminate the breadth and diversity of the Hebrew woman’s poetic tradition. It includes an introduction giving historical, cultural and literary perspectives. Full bibliographic and biographical notes.

Unprecedented in its scope, many of these poems are unknown to an English speaking audience. A unique volume of 100 poems by 50 writers from antiquity to the present, which transforms the perception of Jewish women’s poetry in Hebrew.

DESCRIPTION:

Main stress on contemporary poets include the critically acclaimed Dahlia Ravikovich, whose haunting poetry speaks to the oppression of Palestinians, Yonah Wallach, whose fantastic, irreverent poems challenge the limits of language and women’s sexuality, Holocaust orphan Ruth Ben-David’s moving poems. Scholarly work with new interpretations and translations of Biblical and rabbinic lit-erature; poems from the medieval period and the first poem of the classical age of Hebrew poetry; plus Sarah Horowitz’ intimate lyric poems woven into communal prayers from the early modem period.

• Unique bilingual anthology transforming the conception of Jewish women’s poetry.
• New material, new translations.
• Introduction placing the poems in historical, cultural, and literary perspectives, and full bibliographic and biographical notes.
• Arts Council of England and European Jewish Publication Society support.
• Aimed at the academic market and libraries for use in courses as wide ranging as poetry, religious studies and world literature as well as Hebrew Literature, Jewish studies, and the general public interested in reading good poetry.
• Public lecture by editors at launch at Jewish Book Week, London March 12th 2000, and Manchester Jewish Book Week. (Publication: Nov. 1999). Author tour to Oxford, Cambridge. Extensive press coverage.