Der Nister (1884–1950)

Worth the investment for the immersive experience alone. Highly detailed glimpse into the life of a 19th century Eastern European Jewish family. Rich with detail and meaning. This book contributed to the author's imprisonment in a Soviet gulag so you know it has to be good.

The Family Masjber by Der Nister ('the obscure one') is one of the forgotten classics of world literature. Influenced by the great Russian authors such as Tolstoy and especially Dostoevsky, Der Nister describes the life and downfall of a well-to-do Jewish family in the late nineteenth century. The story can favourably be compared with Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks. It is masterfully told, and immerses the reader in an unfamiliar (to me at least) world of Jewish traditions, without ever becoming show more purely documentary. With just under 800 pages, fans of the genre will find all they look for. show less

Although this book was engrossing, I have to put it aside for right now, as it makes me too anxious to read at the moment (for reasons I won't get into here). So it goes back into the "to-read" pile.

Ambientada en la ciudad ucraniana de N. a finales del XIX, La familia Máshber analiza los conflictos entre los valores familiares, comunitarios, mercantiles, políticos y espirituales de una época en la que ya se presentían las convulsiones que traería el nuevo siglo; todo ello con una indudable maestría en la escritura y unas grandes dosis de inteligencia, sátira, magia y humor negro.