Can I see a complete English translation?
Yes! Although you will enjoy the book much more if you make an effort to understand the Yiddish, there are no secrets. We’ve provided a complete "cheater’s edition" on-line, covering all of Volume I, chapter by chapter, so when in doubt, feel free to come here help.
(If you come across a hi-lited portion of text while reading these selections, you can click on it and link to the corresponding English/Yiddish passage from the book. Use the "Back" button on your browser to return to the English translation.)PART I: CHILDHOOD
Chapter 1: The Village of Zastavia
Chapter 2: My Parents
Chapter 3: My Mother’s Stories
Chapter 4: The Inheritance
Chapter 5: The Slavuta Talmud
Chapter 6: The Housewarming
Chapter 7: The Tax-Collector
Chapter 8: Master of Dreams
Chapter 9: I Become a Writer
Chapter 10: Troubles on Account of a Name
Chapter 11: On the Other Side of the Bridge
Chapter 12: Gaining and Losing a Friend
Chapter 13: Deciding my Future
PART II: ON THE ROAD OF GENERATIONS
Chapter 14: Alone in a Strange Place
Chapter 15: The Yeshiva in Brisk
Chapter 16: My Uncle the Author
Chapter 17: An Unexpected Guest
Chapter 18: The Preacher
Chapter 19: The Song of Generations
Chapter 20: The Joy of Learning
PART III: THE HAND OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT
Chapter 21: In Turmoil
Chapter 22: Giving In to Temptation
Chapter 23: Forbidden Water is Sweet
Chapter 24: A Ruined Passover
Chapter 25: My Mother Gets Her Way
Chapter 26: The Yeshiva in Slobodka
Chapter 27: Kovno Looms Over Slobodka
Chapter 28: The Song is Interrupted
Part IV: WAR
Chapter 29: The World in Flames
Chapter 30: The Cantor’s Wife
Chapter 31: The Cantor: A Lost Talent
Chapter 32: I Become a Slaughterer (And Cut my Finger)
Chapter 33: The Exile of Kovno
Chapter 34: Under a False Name
Chapter 35: Brothers in Misery
Chapter 36: Days of Turmoil
Chapter 37: The Refugee Aid Committee
Chapter 38: Our Eternal Flame
Chapter 39: Days of Loneliness
Chapter 40: Between Dreams and Reality
Chapter 41: I Begin to Write
Chapter 42: I Become "Famous"
Chapter 43: A Pair of Wooden Crutches
PART V: BY THE BANKS OF THE VOLGA
Chapter 44: In the Factory
Chapter 45: Sabbath
Chapter 46: The Flea Market
Chapter 47: The Parchment Burns
Chapter 48: Among the Common People
Chapter 49: The New Neighbor
Chapter 50: A Face from Home
Chapter 51: By the Banks of the Volga
Chapter 52: The Illegal Night Courses
Chapter 53: The Three "Taytshes"
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