One of the most beloved and prolific writers of Yiddish literature, Sholom Aleichem (1859?1916) produced a wealth of wonderful stories that combine traditional Jewish oral humor with Western literary tradition. For years a living legend, he wrote enduring gems of fiction, eleven of which are included in this entertaining collection.
The master storyteller brilliantly recaptures the joy and tribulations of Jewish life in such tales as "Geese," "At the Doctor's," "Three Widows," "The Passover Eve Vagabonds," "On America," "Someone to Envy," "Three Calendars," "The Ruined Passover," the title story, and two others. Introduced and ably translated by Curt Leviant, these tales sparkle with wit, wisdom, and a warm humanity that will appeal to a wide audience of readers, especially those with an interest in Jewish cultural life.

Solomon Naumovich Rabinovich (1859?1916), better known as Sholom Aleichem, fled the Russian pogroms and eventually settled in the United States. His tales of life in his native country inspired the Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof.