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Stempenyu: A Jewish Romance
Even the most pious Jew need not shed so many tears over the destruction of Jerusalem as the women were in the habit of shedding when Stempenyu was playing.
The first work of Sholom Aleichem’s to be translated into English—this long out-of-print translation is the only one ever done under Aleichem’s personal supervision—Stempenyu is a prime example of the author’ s hallmark his antic and often sardonic sense of humor, his whip-smart dialogue, his workaday mysticism, and his historic documentation of shtetl life.
Held recently by scholars to be the story that inspired Marc Chagall’s “Fiddler on the Roof” painting (which in turn inspired the play that was subsequently based on Aleichem’s Tevye stories, not this novella), Stempenyu is the hysterical story of a young village girl who falls for a wildly popular klezmer fiddler—a character based upon an actual Yiddish musician whose fame set off a kind of pop hysteria in the shtetl. Thus the story, in this contemporaneous “authorized” translation, is a wonderful introduction to Aleichem’s work as he wanted it read, not to mention to the unique palaver of a nineteenth-century Yiddish rock star.
The first work of Sholom Aleichem’s to be translated into English—this long out-of-print translation is the only one ever done under Aleichem’s personal supervision—Stempenyu is a prime example of the author’ s hallmark his antic and often sardonic sense of humor, his whip-smart dialogue, his workaday mysticism, and his historic documentation of shtetl life.
Held recently by scholars to be the story that inspired Marc Chagall’s “Fiddler on the Roof” painting (which in turn inspired the play that was subsequently based on Aleichem’s Tevye stories, not this novella), Stempenyu is the hysterical story of a young village girl who falls for a wildly popular klezmer fiddler—a character based upon an actual Yiddish musician whose fame set off a kind of pop hysteria in the shtetl. Thus the story, in this contemporaneous “authorized” translation, is a wonderful introduction to Aleichem’s work as he wanted it read, not to mention to the unique palaver of a nineteenth-century Yiddish rock star.
195 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1888
About the author
Sholom Aleichem
280 books169 followersRussian-born American humorist Sholem Aleichem or Sholom Aleichem, originally Solomon Rabinowitz, in Yiddish originally wrote stories and plays, the basis for the musical
Fiddler on the Roof
.
This Jew wrote under this pen name, Hebrew for "peace be upon you."
From 1883, he produced more than forty volumes as a central figure in literature before 1890.
His notable narratives accurately described shtetl life with the naturalness of speech of his characters. Early critics focused on the cheerfulness of the characters, interpreted as a way of coping with adversity. Later critics saw a tragic side. Because of the similar style of the author with the pen name of Mark Twain, people often referred to Aleichem as the Jewish version of Twain. Both authors wrote for adults and children and lectured extensively in Europe and the United States.
This Jew wrote under this pen name, Hebrew for "peace be upon you."
From 1883, he produced more than forty volumes as a central figure in literature before 1890.
His notable narratives accurately described shtetl life with the naturalness of speech of his characters. Early critics focused on the cheerfulness of the characters, interpreted as a way of coping with adversity. Later critics saw a tragic side. Because of the similar style of the author with the pen name of Mark Twain, people often referred to Aleichem as the Jewish version of Twain. Both authors wrote for adults and children and lectured extensively in Europe and the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 1, 2018
A charming, simple story with great writing and a surprising ending. Mind you, not a socking one, just sweet on one side and melancholic on the other.
October 1, 2017
I had intended to down vote Sholem Aleichem’ Stempenyu: A Jewish Romance. Not so much because of the typos, there are plenty, I pretended they were Yiddishkeit, or at least shtetl slang.
The first third of this book dragged. It seemed obvious from the get go. Stempenyu is hardly obvious. There are a few too many of the “blessings on her head”, “May we have as good a year”, kinds of elaborations than were needed. What changed my mind was the slow emergence of a more unique telling of this kind of story.
Stempenyu could be a Yiddish version of Anna Karenina. Rochalle a bored, petted newlywed woman runs off with the bad boy, Stempenyu because her husband is not attentive. He is a violinist and his music seduces every village woman. Rochalle has everything she might want except room among other things a singer. As Tolstoy has it and it applies to both Rochalle and Stempenyu: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
So far this is the plot of many romances. What SA adds is an honest retelling of both the day to day lives of the bad boy and his latest conquest. We learn of his wandering ways and his marriage to a controlling tight fisted woman.
Rochalle had a close friend who let herself be married to a cruel man and died for lack of love and the certainty that her life would never get better.
Our heroine has before her a life she finds stultifying and the example of how deadly is a life without love. Now she has chance to become the lover of a married passionate fellow musician.
Given that this is a novella, short of 200 pages the two main figures are successfully rendered not as the typical paired romantic lovers, but as people with lives unique to themselves. Neither is as easily understood as the few points I have made. Almost any literary triangle has participants with similar back story. Stempenyu and Rochalle are quickly made individual. This is the master touch in this Jewish Romance.
The first third of this book dragged. It seemed obvious from the get go. Stempenyu is hardly obvious. There are a few too many of the “blessings on her head”, “May we have as good a year”, kinds of elaborations than were needed. What changed my mind was the slow emergence of a more unique telling of this kind of story.
Stempenyu could be a Yiddish version of Anna Karenina. Rochalle a bored, petted newlywed woman runs off with the bad boy, Stempenyu because her husband is not attentive. He is a violinist and his music seduces every village woman. Rochalle has everything she might want except room among other things a singer. As Tolstoy has it and it applies to both Rochalle and Stempenyu: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
So far this is the plot of many romances. What SA adds is an honest retelling of both the day to day lives of the bad boy and his latest conquest. We learn of his wandering ways and his marriage to a controlling tight fisted woman.
Rochalle had a close friend who let herself be married to a cruel man and died for lack of love and the certainty that her life would never get better.
Our heroine has before her a life she finds stultifying and the example of how deadly is a life without love. Now she has chance to become the lover of a married passionate fellow musician.
Given that this is a novella, short of 200 pages the two main figures are successfully rendered not as the typical paired romantic lovers, but as people with lives unique to themselves. Neither is as easily understood as the few points I have made. Almost any literary triangle has participants with similar back story. Stempenyu and Rochalle are quickly made individual. This is the master touch in this Jewish Romance.
January 5, 2014
I picked this up at Aardvark Books in San Francisco during a recent trip. I'd just finished a downer of a book and was looking for something...better. When I read the back flap about Mark Twain's respect and admiration for this writer, I knew I had to give it a go.
I wasn't disappointed. Well, I was. Because it's a novella and, by definition, short, it didn't last all the way home from San Francisco and I found myself without a book to read.
THIS, though, was great fun! Originally published in 1888, it's a glimpse into Russian Jewish villages in the 19th century. Sure, there are stereotypes. Sure, people aren't poisoned or murdered or knifed on every page (and the author apologizes for that). Sure, it's an interesting window into a world that not many of us have ever thought about. Some will bristle and tell you that it is an admonition to not "follow your heart" and that duty is more important than "freedom." I think I read a different book. I'm sure I was looking at a different culture. It's a good story, very funny in places, and I enjoyed the writer's turn of phrase. Highly recommended.
I will also agree with the reviewer who blasted this edition for annoying typos and misspellings. Yes. They're rampant in here and sometimes makes the reading go a bit slower. And the author's name? Sholem on the cover and Sholom all through the flap blurbs. Well? Which is it?
I wasn't disappointed. Well, I was. Because it's a novella and, by definition, short, it didn't last all the way home from San Francisco and I found myself without a book to read.
THIS, though, was great fun! Originally published in 1888, it's a glimpse into Russian Jewish villages in the 19th century. Sure, there are stereotypes. Sure, people aren't poisoned or murdered or knifed on every page (and the author apologizes for that). Sure, it's an interesting window into a world that not many of us have ever thought about. Some will bristle and tell you that it is an admonition to not "follow your heart" and that duty is more important than "freedom." I think I read a different book. I'm sure I was looking at a different culture. It's a good story, very funny in places, and I enjoyed the writer's turn of phrase. Highly recommended.
I will also agree with the reviewer who blasted this edition for annoying typos and misspellings. Yes. They're rampant in here and sometimes makes the reading go a bit slower. And the author's name? Sholem on the cover and Sholom all through the flap blurbs. Well? Which is it?
October 3, 2013
Trecand peste faptul ca titlul este fie o subtilitate, fie o bizarerie, mi-a placut extrem de mult cartea. Scrisa simplu, fara expresii pompoase si fara personaje iesite din comun.
Si cu un final de bun simt.
Spolers ahead:
Stempeniu, un muzicant vestit se indragosteste de Rohele. Doar ca si el si ea sunt casatoriti. Desi o curteaza, singura lor intalnire este una scurta, in cadrul careia Rohele il roaga frumos sa o lase in pace.
Rohele si sotul ei parasesc casa parinteasca a lui si se muta intr-un oras mare pentru a se redescoperi reciproc dupa un an de la casatorie si pentru a fi pe cont propriu, in timp ce Stempeniu continua sa se bizuie pe vioara lui si sa-si duca viata nefericita alaturi de sotia sa avara si lipsita de suflet.
Si cu un final de bun simt.
Spolers ahead:
Stempeniu, un muzicant vestit se indragosteste de Rohele. Doar ca si el si ea sunt casatoriti. Desi o curteaza, singura lor intalnire este una scurta, in cadrul careia Rohele il roaga frumos sa o lase in pace.
Rohele si sotul ei parasesc casa parinteasca a lui si se muta intr-un oras mare pentru a se redescoperi reciproc dupa un an de la casatorie si pentru a fi pe cont propriu, in timp ce Stempeniu continua sa se bizuie pe vioara lui si sa-si duca viata nefericita alaturi de sotia sa avara si lipsita de suflet.
May 26, 2020
Very cool to read a novel written in the 1880s by a Russian Jew. I loved the introduction (where the author discusses what writing a Jewish novel means to him), I loved the ending, and in-between there was an excellent balance between the characters' reflections on village life AND events that actually pushed the plot forward. With good pacing and vivid details, it felt like the best of both worlds. Can't wait to share this book with my mom, and if I can find a larger (or at least regular) print version, I'll share it with my grandparents, too, who will love it as much as I did, I hope!
July 8, 2008
I give this book four stars and a warning to other readers.
First the four stars. I really liked this story.
Second the warning. This edition is riddled with spelling errors. Very annoying.
First the four stars. I really liked this story.
Second the warning. This edition is riddled with spelling errors. Very annoying.
December 10, 2008
Apparently even classic Jewish authors write about Jewish women as money-obsessed, shrewish nags. Huh.
March 10, 2022
3.5 stars.
The translator and editor should be ashamed of the typos in the lovely little book.
Written in the 1880s by the author who grew up in a shtetl (small Jewish village in Ukraine/Russia);it is a window into a long gone world. I was surprised by the amount of literacy of the characters. Much of the language is very flowery and ornate.
This is the salutation of a letter written by a son to his father.
"Peace and all good to my father-the famous man of piety, the wonderful teacher and rabbi, Isaac-Naphtali, son of Reb Moshe-Joseph, of blessed memory. And, also to my beloved mother whose piety and fame and virtue are like unto the piety and fame and virtue of Esther and Abigail of old- to my mother, whose name is beautiful-Dvossa, Malka, the daughter of Reb Moshe-Mendel, of blessed memory!
And yet, one can trace a direct line of the humor in this book to more modern day comedians including Woody Allen, Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner.
For anyone interested in a microcosm of this world will enjoy this book.
The translator and editor should be ashamed of the typos in the lovely little book.
Written in the 1880s by the author who grew up in a shtetl (small Jewish village in Ukraine/Russia);it is a window into a long gone world. I was surprised by the amount of literacy of the characters. Much of the language is very flowery and ornate.
This is the salutation of a letter written by a son to his father.
"Peace and all good to my father-the famous man of piety, the wonderful teacher and rabbi, Isaac-Naphtali, son of Reb Moshe-Joseph, of blessed memory. And, also to my beloved mother whose piety and fame and virtue are like unto the piety and fame and virtue of Esther and Abigail of old- to my mother, whose name is beautiful-Dvossa, Malka, the daughter of Reb Moshe-Mendel, of blessed memory!
And yet, one can trace a direct line of the humor in this book to more modern day comedians including Woody Allen, Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner.
For anyone interested in a microcosm of this world will enjoy this book.
August 28, 2021
I'm not positive what made me like this book so much (maybe the angsty romance), but it really hooked me. It's quite funny, but also has some emotional moments that have a lot of depth to them. I probably wouldn't have read this if it wasn't for class, but I'm very happy that I did.
March 5, 2020
Really slow read. I had trouble getting through more than one page in one sitting.
June 5, 2020
I love how proud the author is in his characters. Rochalle is good and rewarded. Stempenyu is bad and get punished. Duty and promises are put before personal feelings.
February 15, 2024
An antidote for Madam Bovary.
June 1, 2024
Este o carte ieșită din tipare și cu o poveste atipică. Dar autorul are un stil de delicios de a povesti. Iar Stempeniu este un personaj memorabil. Recomand!
November 30, 2014
The comic tale of the love of the fickle, but talented fiddler Stempenyu for the beautiful Rochalle, the wife of Moshe-Mendel, the son of a wealthy merchant, and the angst that it caused them. Aleichem’s parody of a romantically tragic love tale is set in late nineteenth century Ukraine, then a part of the Russian Empire, among its Jewish inhabitants. It’s filled with hilariously sarcastic spats among the characters, and the sardonic commentary of their neighbors and in-laws, along with a few by author himself.
July 26, 2016
This book is hilarious. It is so funny, it's unbelievable it was written in the 1880s. There are so many jokes, you can't believe it. It's like your nebbishe aunt and uncle having a conversation, mamish. The ending is just perfect. Everything you need in a Jewish romance, literally everything-no more and no less.
February 19, 2008
This beautifully packaged series of classic novellas includes the works of Anton Chekhov, Colette, Henry James, Herman Melville, and Leo Tolstoy. These collectible editions are the first single-volume publications of these classic tales, offering a closer look at this underappreciated literary form and providing a fresh take on the world's most celebrated authors.
July 27, 2013
Fine novella written by a master. Obviously dated and oft copied in plot and characters. Must lose a lot in translation. Can see how his characters have become stereotypical templates for later writers. The plot while being decidedly one dimensional does capture the conduct of some of us, mere mortals.
November 12, 2014
Ótimo livro. Um pouco repetitivo em alguns momentos, nos diálogos e descrição de cenário e personagens. Apesar disso, a história foi suficientemente interessante para manter o interesse no livro. Sobre amor e paixão, sobre o medo e sobre Sansão e Dalila, sim, aquele dos longos cabelos cuja força é castrada numa distração.
June 19, 2020
an artist should not write a moralistic story like this. The moral of the story: it's better an arranged marriage than an infatuation... Don't brake the rules imposed over you by someone else... whatever. I would choose Stempenyu a thousand times over the rich husband.
August 16, 2014
It was light and entertaining, with many great passages about how our emotions translate into physical sensations -- anxiety of meeting a lover, feeling stifled in a crowded home, agitation in love. Not a great book, but an okay book.
January 28, 2015
" The heart itself is like a fiddle; the Jewish heart, I mean, of course."
This story is light and simple and all its beauty comes from it - there is a balance for humor and sorrow, very characteristic of the author. It's a must read of Sholem Aleichem.
This story is light and simple and all its beauty comes from it - there is a balance for humor and sorrow, very characteristic of the author. It's a must read of Sholem Aleichem.
December 30, 2008
This is a lot of fun, but not a good introduction to Aleichem. It is both like and unlike his work. The wry tone is there, but the humor is in the background.
September 11, 2013
Hmmm an interesting read for me a non-Jew, but a lover of Fiddler on the Roof the play and the music - I will read more of this author.
August 19, 2014
What an odd, amusing, comical little book!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews