U of M Department of Religion  
Department of Religion, University of Manitoba  
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MANY PIOUS WOMEN

 

Many Pious Women is an annotated translation and study of a rhyming Yiddish manuscript from Renaissance Italy, in praise of womankind.

The manuscript tells us with sympathy - and tongue in cheek - about women's trials with boorish husbands, pregnancy, and children; then retells stories from the Bible and Jewish legends about pious women who also happen to be strong, smart and sexy; and gives us glimpses of women's rituals and customs in the author's own time.

Here, as a downloadable preview, is the entire English translation from the manuscript and the original text in early Yiddish. Don't be alarmed that the text starts in mid-sentence -- the beginning is actually missing. This preview only has the footnotes (Roman numerals); the book itself includes all the endnotes, which give lots more explanations and background.

ManyPiousWomen-preview

This part of the book is my work (with a lot of help from kind experts). The complete book, published in 2011 by De Gruyter (Berlin), is by me and Harry Fox (University of Toronto) and includes Harry's extensive introductory essays, my reflections on translation, and all the endnotes.

You can also preview Many Pious Women on Google Books.

The book can be purchased through the publisher, or ordered through your local bookseller. Or (since it is rather expensive) find it in a university library near you. In fact, please ask your library to order it if they haven't yet.

 


                        

                                          

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