Someday everyone will know exactly what you did

[sovay]

1. I called the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst and ordered a fifteen-year-old back issue of Der Pakn Treger, because it contains, as far as I can tell, the only complete English translation of Sholem Asch's Got fun nekome (God of Vengeance, 1907) since Isaac Goldberg's in 1918, which I do not recommend. I cannot figure out how I never heard of this play until last night. Seriously, first lesbians of the Yiddish theater? Will report back when I have read it. Also maybe see if strange_selkie wants to direct a production.

2. Bydgoszcz is a real place. I had always vaguely assumed Harlan Ellison made it up for "The Last Will and Testicle of Trees Rabelais"—nothing about the rest of the story, including the title, would encourage one to believe otherwise. Nope. It's quite a large city. It's where one finds the Bydgoszcz Canal and Casimir the Great University. It came up in the course of my job, which has heretofore mostly been teaching me about fast food in Finland and small Indonesian streets.

3. I am pleased beyond words that someone appears to be coming out with a full translation of the Brontoscopic Calendar of Nigidius Figulus. It's a seventh-century Etruscan omen text translated into Latin in the first century BCE and surviving in a sixth-century Greek edition; it's incredibly awesome. Also, it's just that much fun to say.

4. I had coffee this afternoon (all right, they had coffee, I had herbal chai) with a pair of philosophers at Café Gato Rojo in Harvard Square. The conversation turned to Robert Musil and then someone quoted Wittgenstein.

5. I wish I hadn't missed A Taste of Honey (1961) on TCM. I read the play last week.

Comments

[teenybuffalo.livejournal.com]

The Yiddish Book Center! I was there a few months ago with negothick. It's delightful. They have giant antique printing presses with lead type for Yiddish newspapers, and racks on racks of books.

Lots of sheet music, which caught me by surprise--the Yiddish-language musical theater isn't something you hear a lot about these days, but there was a whole wall which consisted mainly of huge heaps of sheet music from the nineteen-and-single-digits. They were all much like the Yiddish answer to "While Strolling Through The Park One Day" and "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-de-ay". I'm going to buy some of it sometime and learn to sing it.

I'm curious, what does your job entail?

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I will have to go discover what "Brontoscopic" means.** I like that it was Etruscan, translated into Latin, but surviving only in Greek.

Your job sounds very intriguing!

**WHOA! Brontoscopy: divination by THUNDER!

That.

Is awesome, and I want to try doing it.

[rose-lemberg.livejournal.com]

oooh oohhh ooooh Sholem Asch! Are you going to be producing it in Yiddish or in English? This makes me happy either way.

[kerrickadrian.livejournal.com]

I may have to change my name to Brontoscopic Callender someday.

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

If it thunders...

around here, it means rain, possibly a bit of lightening.. I think the divination aspect is nifty.

[schreibergasse.livejournal.com]

I am pleased beyond words that someone appears to be coming out with a full translation of the Brontoscopic Calendar

Seriously cool article! Thanks for linking.

Also, it's just that much fun to say.
'Brontoscopic Kalendar' or 'seventh-century Etruscan omen text translated into Latin in the first century BCE and surviving in a sixth-century Greek edition'?

[strange-selkie.livejournal.com]

Bydgoszcz?
Gesundheit!

I only knew about it because a lot of Holocaust happened there. There was a women's subcamp of Stutthof and all the happy crap that goes along with being annexed to a thing called the Warthegau.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you read Yiddish!

Now I feel I should introduce you to mannoftalent who works at the Folksbeinne Theater here in New York, and also (at some point) to callylevy who does Yiddish performance in England. To say nothing of my aunt G. who pretty much is the continuity of Yiddish theater in Toronto.

[negothick.livejournal.com]

I remember that issue of the PaknTreger, and I think I saved it, but who knows where it is.
I have a vague memory that it was NOT a full translation of God of Vengeance, but instead a more correct translation of parts of it--I may be wrong, but I have a memory of summaries of parts of the play and full dialogue of other parts.
Like most drama, the play has a complicated textual history, let alone the usual problems with translation. I think that there was a silent film version as well.
But yes, Lesbian relationship between the daughter of the brothel-keeper and one of the prostitutes, enacted onstage, not just reported from offstage.
That play came up for discussion in my synagogue a few years ago, since the play's major plot engine is the whoremonger's attempt to buy salvation by paying for a Torah scroll: Our congregation had received a Torah scroll from a member who made his money cheating Merrill Lynch. Though he was tried and jailed for the crime, it seems like a much smaller sin in light of Bernie Madoff. But yes, there was a comparison between our incident and the play.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Now I'm imagining the Gods' Hospital. "Athena? She just went in for a brontoscopy."

Nine

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

1.

I hope you receive your back issue soon and enjoy it muchly. Sounds a fascinating bit of writing.

2.

I'm glad the job has given you such an interesting discovery.

3.

That _is_ incredibly awesome. I'm glad to know of it.

5.

I hope they replay the movie soon and that you get a chance to see it.

Yoh, Manke, Yoh

[awhyzip.livejournal.com]

Talk to me about this and I can put you in touch with a friend who directed a scene from this (in the Yiddish) just the other year. Unless you know her already? Seems like maybe you should: Debra

I didn't realize your interest in Yiddish