Ralph Melnick Libri

Set against the backdrop of 1892, a young instructor at Smith College introduced a modified version of basketball that became a monumental success among women's schools. Senda Berenson, a Jewish immigrant, inadvertently transformed women's athletics by establishing gender-specific rules that emphasized teamwork. Her approach aimed to foster physical courage and social equality, resonating with progressive reformers of her time. Berenson's vision intertwined athletics with art, promoting joyful participation in sports as a means of personal and societal growth.

Examines Levin's claims that the stage adaptation of Anne Frank's diary rejected a Jewish treatment of the work in favour of a play with a universal message. The text establishes the bias of the opposition to Levin and places the issue in the context of the wider cultural struggle of the 1950s.

Following the first volume that traced Lewisohn's life to 1934, this text portrays Lewisohn's last decades as an outspoken opponent of Nazi Germany, a leading promoter of Jewish resettlement in Palestine, and as one of the earliest voices advocating Jewish renewal in America.

Ludwig Lewisohn (1882-1955) was a literary scholar, poet, prolific novelist, and essayist. Despite earning both his B.A. and M.A. degrees by the age of nineteen and beginning work on his doctorate, his academic career was cut short when he was denied teaching positions because of his Jewish origins. In 1919, he became the editor of The Nation. In 1924 he moved to Paris where he maintained a literary, salon and encountered the great literary minds of the day: Gertrude Stein, Thomas Mann, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sigmund Freud, and many others. Lewisohn's fascinating life makes for lively reading as Melnick exposes the intellectual, emotional, and sensual sides of this Jewish literary figure.

Ludwig Lewisohn's life and work are marked by his struggle with alienation in a predominantly Christian America, which he navigated through the evolution of his Jewish identity. This journey is intricately woven into his extensive body of work, encompassing fiction, literary analysis, and social criticism, showcasing his significant literary presence in both America and Europe during the early twentieth century. His writings reflect a deep engagement with themes of identity and belonging.

Exploring themes of identity and belonging, Ludwig Lewisohn's life reflects a profound journey from alienation to embracing his Jewish heritage. Born in Berlin and raised in South Carolina, he faced outsider status throughout his youth. A distinguished scholar and translator, his literary contributions spanned fiction and social criticism. The death of his mother prompted a reevaluation of his Jewish roots, leading him to Zionism by 1920. His memoir, Up Stream, provocatively critiques American culture, igniting controversy and lasting animosity.