Michael Wex
Michael Wex (born September 12, 1954 in Lethbridge , Alberta , Canada ) is a Canadian writer, entertainer and one of the world's most renowned Yiddishists . Michael Wex lives in Toronto .
Life
He was born in Canada in 1954 as the son of emigrated Polish Jews and grew up bilingually ( Yiddish and English). His father fought with the Canadian Army in Europe during World War II . Wex was raised religiously and experienced the entire field of tension of an Orthodox Eastern European Jewish upbringing in North America, an experience that he worked on in two novels. He became a stand-up comedian and professor, employed in both fields every year with great success at “KlezKamp: The Yiddish Folk Arts Program”. Since 1993 he has been working with the musician and translator Heiko Lehmann within the GOLUS STORYTHEATRE (TORONTO-BERLIN), which they founded. This collaboration resulted in two German-language book publications, several plays and a CD. In addition, Wex works regularly as a copywriter and translator for various American and Canadian klezmer bands. His book "Born To Kvetsh", published in New York in 2005, made it onto the American bestseller lists.
Works
His work includes novels, plays, translations (from Yiddish, Hebrew, and Aramaic; Wex created the only authorized Yiddish version of the Threepenny Opera ) and academic writings.
Novels
-
Shlepping the Exile. Mosaic, Oakville (Ontario) 1992 ISBN 9780889625426 ; St Martin's Press, New York 2014
- Translated by Heiko Lehmann (same title). Ricco Bilger, Zurich 1998 ISBN 3908010357
-
The Adventures of Micah Mushmelon, Boy Talmudist. Quattro, Toronto 2007 ISBN 0978280628
- Translator Heiko Lehmann: The adventures of Micah Mushmelon, childlike Talmudist. Verlag Klaus Wagenbach , Berlin 2005 ISBN 3803125057
- The Frumkiss Family Business. A megilla in 14 chapters. Alfred Knopf Canada, Toronto 2010 ISBN 0307397769 ; TB 2011
linguistics
- Born To Kvetch: Yiddish Language and Culture in All Its Moods St. Martin's Press, NY 2005 ISBN 0312307411
- Just Say Nu: Yiddish for Every Occasion (When English Just Won't Do) St. Martin's Press, NY 2007 ISBN 0312364628
-
How to be a Mentsh (and not a Shmuck). Secrets of the good life from the most unpopular people on earth . HarperCollins , NY 2009 ISBN 0061771112
- In French: Comment se comporter en mentsch et pas en shmok. Denoel, Paris ISBN 2207109224
Pieces
- God in Paris (Like God in Paris)
- Sex in Yiddish (sex in Yiddish)
- Jews Clouds or Meshiekh's Tsaytn. (Jewish cloud or Meschiechs times)
- I Just Want To Jewify (The Yiddish Revenge On Wagner)
Web links
- Literature by and about Michael Wex in the catalog of the German National Library
- Page of the author
- KlezKamp: The Yiddish Folk Arts Program
Individual evidence
- ^ CD Introducing: Sukke ( Memento of February 21, 2012 in the Internet Archive ), the individual titles
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Wex, Michael |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Canadian writer, entertainer and Yiddishist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 12, 1954 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Lethbridge , Alberta , Canada |