The major works of the Polish-born writer Shalom Asch (1880-1957) are built on an epic scale, show profound insight into human character, and reveal prophetic vision. They depict patriarchal Jewish life with its devotional joys and fateful martyrdom.

Shalom Asch was born in Kutno, Poland, where he studied at a Hebrew religious school. At the age of 18 he left for Wocawek to become a Hebrew teacher. His reading was extensive in Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, Polish, and German literatures, and he started writing in Hebrew. In 1899 he showed his work to the noted Yiddish writer H. L. Peretz, who advised him to turn to Yiddish as a medium of expression. From that time on, most of Asch's writing was done in Yiddish.

In 1900 he published his first short story, "Moishele." Subsequently his sketches, short stories, and plays appeared in Jewish weeklies and periodicals. Like his childhood, they were steeped...