The Podolian Nights

A new translation of the classic tales based on Eastern European folk tradition and rabbinical wisdom, offering inspiration and advice to readers of all faiths for over 200 years

Nachman of Bratslav, descended from the founder of the Hasidic movement, carved a singular path as a Jewish spiritual leader. Towards the end of his life, he suffered the devastating loss of his young son, which prompted him to turn increasingly inward and seek consolation from the world of the creative imagination.

The result was the 13 fascinating, unique tales in this collection. A landmark in Jewish literature, they depict a surreal world where princes bleed jewels and princesses sail the seas in men's clothing, leaving destruction in their wake. As each tale unfolds, certainties are undermined and images of enigmatic beauty emerge. In a sparkling new translation, Nachman's skewed fables reveal strange and profound depths, prefiguring the modern sensibilities of Gogol and Kafka.

Drawing equally on Yiddish folk stories and their author’s profound spiritual knowledge, tales such as “Of the Loss of a Princess”, “Of a Humble King’s Portrait” and “Of a Wise Man and a Simpleton” still entrance with their originality, profundity, and verve. These mesmerizing tales have touched readers beyond the boundaries of faith, time and place since they were first written down, and these fresh translations offer a renewed sense of their psychological wisdom and narrative delight.