Reviews
"Marvelously ambitious in scope, consolidating in one volume the vast and diverse elements of the Vilna Troupe's history. Caplan is an excellent storyteller, and clearly conveys the energy and excitement that characterized the Vilna Troupe at its best." --Henry Bial, University of Kansas, " Yiddish Empire is a meticulously researched history, captivating in its details, which sheds light on the remarkable achievements of the Yiddish art theater." --- The Year's Work in Critical and Cultural Theory, Winner, MLA 10th Fenia and Yaakov Leviant Memorial Prize in Yiddish Studies "Tracing the various itineraries of the members of the Vilna Troupe as they negotiate the uncertainties and upheavals of the interwar period, Caplan brings theater into the larger conversation about Yiddish cultural modernity as well as interwar theater history." --MLA Award Committee, " Yiddish Empire: The Vilna Troupe, Jewish Theatre, and the Art of Itinerancy ... provides a comprehensive view on the essence, accomplishments, and influences of the Vilna Troupe that traces its name back to its founding in the vicinity of Vilna (now Vilnius, Lithuania) in 1915." - Heidi Stern, The Year's Work in Modern Language Studies, Winner: Modern Language Association (MLA) 10th Fenia and Yaakov Leviant Memorial Prize in Yiddish Studies, "A highly enjoyable book that will be of interest to aficionados of Yiddish theater and others with an interest in the history of Yiddish culture. The Vilna Troupe's story is a great one, and Caplan tells is with verve and enthusiasm." --Jeffrey Veidlinger, University of Michigan
