Glenda Abramson's informative introduction sets the scene for a powerful literary collection, the definitive anthology of a vibrant modern genre.

"This collection of Hebrew short stories contains the work of the great modern Hebrew prose writers . . . in Europe and Israel. With consistently good translations and an excellent introduction and notes by editor Abramson, the work begins with Sefarim in the beginning of the twentieth century and includes contemporary writers and lesser-known women and Sephardic authors. . . . A superb collection".--LIBRARY JOURNAL.

The Story of Hebrew explores the extraordinary hold that Hebrew has had on Jews and Christians, who have invested it with a symbolic power far beyond that of any other language in history. Preserved by the Jews across two millennia, Hebrew endured long after it ceased to be a mother tongue, resulting in one of the most intense textual cultures ever known. Hebrew was a bridge to Greek and Arab science, and it unlocked the biblical sources for Jerome and the Reformation. Kabbalists and humanists sought philosophical truth in it, and Colonial Americans used it to shape their own Israelite political identity. Today, it is the first language of millions of Israelis. A major work of scholarship, The Story of Hebrew is an unforgettable account of what one language has meant and continues to mean.

Twenty stories by Jewish writers from all over the world, including some of the greatest names in modern literature.These stories, deeply rooted in Jewish life and consciousness, reflect authentic, often funny, often moving images of the Jewish people in the modern world. Many major literary figures are represented here: I. L. Peretz, founder of modern Yiddish writing; S. Y. Agnon, Saul Bellow, and Isaac Bashevis Singer, three Nobel Prize-winners; Isaac Babal, often called the greatest master of the Russian short story since Anton Chekhov; contemporary writers Philip Roth, Cynthia Ozick, and Muriel Spark; and many others.

The Hebrew Bible, or Christian Old Testament, contains some of the finest literature that we have. This biblical literature has a place not only in the synagogue or the church but also among the classics of world literature. The stories of Jacob and David, for instance, present the earliest surviving examples of literary characters whose development the reader follows over the length of a lifetime. Elsewhere, as in the books of Esther or Ruth, readers find a snapshot of a particular, fraught moment that will define the character. The Hebrew Bible also provides quite a few high points of lyric poetry, from the praise and lament of the Psalms to the double entendres in the love of poetry of the Song of Songs. In short, the Bible can be celebrated not only as religious literature but, quite simply, as literature. This book offers a thorough and lively introduction to the Bible's two primary literary modes, narrative and poetry, foregrounding the nuances of plot, character, metaphor, structure and design, and intertextual allusions. Tod Linafelt thus gives readers the tools to fully experience and appreciate the Old Testament's literary achievement. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Originally published in 2004 by Toby Press.

Designed to bring the wisdom of centuries to a wide audience, this illustrated Hebrew Bible includes 40 selections from the Torah and 35 from Prophets and Writings.