Jewish Legends of the Middle Ages

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Long ago expelled from the ranks of the nobility on account of his worthless behaviour, the knight had cultivated a connexion with some discontented idle burghers of the city, and these he hoped to make the ministers of his vengeance. -from The Massacre at Prague These strange tales of Jewish folklore make the Brothers Grimm look cheery, with their emphases on murder, bigotry, revenge, and other sordid human impulses: . The Bird That Sang to a Bridegroom features an appearance by the Angel of Death. . The Pound of Flesh tells the legend that provided Shakespeare his source material for his grim play The Merchant of Venice. . The Ape and the Gold Pieces features the decaying carcass of the titular primate. . The Prisoner of the Inquisition is a monstrous tale of unjust imprisonment. A tad intense, perhaps, for the children it was obviously intended for, it is nevertheless a darkly delicious read for grownups. Also available from Cosimo Classics: Field’s The Alchemy of Happiness and Shadows Cast Before. CLAUD FIELD is also author of Mystics and Saints of Islam, Heroes of Missionary Enterprise, and Persian Literature.