Paris un Wiene

Abstract

This book announces the rediscovery of a major milestone in the history of 16th century European narrative literature. The Yiddish stanza version by humanist Elia Levita or one of his pupils of the »Paris and Vienne« material imported to Italy from France elevates the subject to unexpected heights. From a narrative viewpoint it accomplishes this by the artistry of its versification and an in-depth perspective modeled largely on Ariosto. In terms of content it is remarkable for the author's inspired gift for observation, which can legitimately be termed 'realistic' and is thus very much ahead of its time. In this connection the work is notable for the way in which it reconciles the sublime with a delightful sense of comedy, a blend discernible throughout the work. Despite its obvious origins in the world of Renaissance Italy, the poem is at the same time embedded in Jewish religion and philosophy, though the reticence with which this is touched in means that it only becomes apparent on very close reading. A complete version of the poem was only rediscovered as recently as 1986. The publication of an edition of the work in Hebrew letters by the Jerusalem Yiddish Studies scholar Chone Shemeruk is in preparation. The present volume is the first to make the work accessible to western readers in a Latin transcription. It also includes a commentary and an introduction to the work's place in literary history.