Feminist Shtetl Horror Tales: 'The Sweet Fragrance of Life and Other Stories'
Join us on Zoom for an exploration into the new genre of “Feminist Shtetl Horror!”
Renowned Jewish vocalist and writer Elizabeth Schwartz's first book of fiction, The Sweet Fragrance of Life & Other Stories, is a meditation on historic European Jewish culture seen through the lens of a woman's point of view. The author weaves in rich historical particulars, from the political climate of decades past to an account of a real-life incident that inspired one of the tales. Smooth, descriptive prose makes these short stories fly by. This exceptional collection's brevity is sure to leave readers wanting more.
Elizabeth Schwartz has been called “The Edith Piaf of Yiddish” and “a revelation” with a superb mastery of klezmer ornamentations. As the vocalist for Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi and as a soloist, she has performed at festivals, synagogues, and concert halls on every continent except Antarctica (she’s working on that). Her myriad acclaimed recordings of Yiddish, Ladino, Hebrew, and English have been released on the Naxos World, Arc Music UK, Global Village, and Transcontinental Music record labels. On March 18, 2012, Schwartz was invited to become the first woman to sing solo at the Museum at Eldridge Street. Schwartz is the subject of the Romanian documentary film, Searching for Schwartz, by Radu Gabrea (z”l).
As a writer, Schwartz co-created the award-winning audio dramas The Witches of Lublin and Debs in Canton for Suemedia Productions. She contributed a chapter on klezmer vocal technique to Shpil: The Art of Playing Klezmer (Scarecrow Press). Her recipes of Jewish food can be found in A Wandering Feast: A Journey Through the Jewish Culture of Eastern Europe (Jossey-Bass), Zydzi Od Kuchni (Austeria), and It’s Always About the Food (Harper Collins). Her first book of fiction (in English and Yiddish), The Sweet Fragrance of Life & Other Horror Stories, was published by Olniansky Tekst in 2023. The illustrated audiobook, with narration in English and Yiddish and music by Yale Strom, will be released by SueMedia Productions in October of 2024.
Tune in virtually as Schwartz reads excerpts from her dark thrilling stories, describes the religious, cultural, and historical factors that shaped them, and her approach to traditional Jewish arts.
Read more about the book on "Kirkus Reviews:" The Sweet Fragrance of Life and Other Horror Stories | Kirkus Reviews.
Please see the Zoom link in your order confirmation email. This program is entirely virtual.
Registration for this Zoom program is pay-what-you-wish. The following are suggested amounts for each ticket type:
Adults $12
Seniors $10
Students $8
