Tenement Saga: The Lower East Side and Early Jewish American Writers
Nearly two million Jewish men, women, and children emigrated from Eastern Europe between 1882 and 1924 and settled in, or passed through, the Lower East Side of New York City. Sanford Sternlicht tells the story of his own childhood in this vibrant neighborhood and puts it within the context of fourteen early twentieth-century East Side writers. Anzia Yezierska, Abraham Cahan, Michael Gold, and Henry Roth, and others defined this new "Jewish homeland" and paved the way...
Search in google:
Based on a course that includes a field trip to Manhattan's Lower East Side, Sternlight (English, Syracuse U.) traces the roots of modern Jewish American literature to this former Jewish ghetto. Mixing childhood memories with a social history of the 1882-1924 immigration period, the author describes many aspects of tenement life that inspired writers including Abraham Cahan, Anzia Yezierska, and Henry Roth. He presents synopses of the lives and major works of 14 writers, and notes their cultural/literary legacy. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Pt. 1The Lower East SideCultural history and topography3Where did they come from?3Immigrant life10The immigrant woman and the family14Education17Work21The Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire and the rise of labor laws28The public forum : Jewish newspapers and periodicals30Reading32Religion and secularism34Prostitution35Other types of crime37The impact of historical events39The Yiddish theater44Other forms of recreation and entertainment48Food50The Lower East Side tenement museum on Orchard Street55Moving on56Pt. 2Early Jewish American writersThe writers61Antecedents in American literature62Themes62City fiction64Abraham Cahan66Anzia Yezierska82Rose Cohen91Marcus Eli Ravage95Samuel Ornitz98Marie Ganz103Ben Hecht107Michael Gold111Samson Raphaelson118Marya Zaturenska122Louis Zukofsky124Sydney Taylor127Henry Roth130Harry Roskolenko150Conclusion : a group picture from the Williamsburg bridge155
