Bolesaw Prus and the Jews

“Agnieszka Friedrich’s monograph demonstrates the extreme complexity of approaches to the so-called ‘Jewish question’ in nineteenth- and early twentieth century Poland (then still part of Tsarist Russia). Some modern critics, Friedrich argues, reach precipitate or even wrong conclusions by reading Prus’s fiction through a post-Holocaust lens; but those who read Prus in unequivocal black-and-white terms minimize the complexity of his work. Friedrich’s insightful and well-researched monograph is the first to fully evaluate Prus’s opinion of the Jews. As a specialist in Jewish issues in nineteenth-century Polish literature, she is well placed to evaluate contemporaneous understandings of the Jewish question in the context of Poland. … Friedrich’s useful and thorough study is recommended for any scholar of Polish–Jewish relations or literature of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.”

— Katarzyna Zechenter, University College London, Modern Language Review (October 2022: Vol. 117, No. 4)

“Bolesław Prus and the Jews is well organized and meticulously researched. Each chapter provides a wealth of references to primary and secondary sources, making it an excellent departure point for future inquiries into late-nineteenth-century Polish intellectual life and Polish-Jewish history…Those interested in Prus’s work or the rich—if often troubled—history of Polish-Jewish relations in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries will find Friedrich’s book a rewarding read.”

— Łukasz Wodzyński, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Polish Review