Simon Horontchik
Polish-Jewish writer (1889–1939)
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Simon Horontchik (Yiddish: שמעון האָראָנטשיק; 13 June 1889 – September 1939) was a Polish Jewish novelist and short story writer writing in Yiddish.
Simon Horontchik | |
|---|---|
שמעון האָראָנטשיק | |
Portrait of Horontchik by Gela Seksztajn | |
| Born | 13 June 1889 |
| Died | September 1939 (aged 50) |
| Writing career | |
| Language | Yiddish |
Horontchik was born into a poor Hasidic family in Wieluń. He worked as a labourer at a lacework factory in Kalisz from the age of 17 until the outbreak of the First World War,[1] during which time he began composing poetry. He narrowly escaped the destruction of Kalisz in August 1914, fleeing to Lodz and then Sompolno. There he became a grocer and married.
His first publication was a short story in the Yiddish daily Lodzsher Togblat in 1916. He published poetry in numerous publications until 1921, when he published his first book, Feldblumen ('Flowers of the Field'; Warsaw, 1921), thereafter devoting himself primarily to prose writing.[2]
He lived for several years in Vlatslavek, Paris, Berlin, and Warsaw.[2][3] He fled toward Vilna upon the Nazi occupation of Warsaw in September 1939, but ran into German troops engaged in a pogrom in Kalushin. He committed suicide to avoid a violent death.[4][5]
Partial bibliography
- Feldblimen [Flowers of the Field]. Warsaw: Vaysenberg Ferlag. 1921.
- Farplonterte vegn, oder tsvishn di khurves fun yidishn lebn [Confused Ways, or, Among the Ruins of Jewish Life]. Warsaw: S. Goldfarb. 1924.
- In geroysh fun mashinen, roman in tsvey teyln [Amid the Whirr of Machines: A Novel in Two Parts]. Warsaw: Farlag Kultur-lige. 1930 [1928].
- 1905, roman [1905: A Novel]. Warsaw: Farlag Kultur-lige. 1929.
- Zump, roman [Swamp: A Novel]. Warsaw: Farlag Kultur-lige. 1931.
- Baym shvel [At the Threshold]. Warsaw: Kinder-fraynd. 1935.
- Shtarke mentshn, noveln [Strong People: Novellas]. Warsaw: Farlag Kultur-lige. 1936.
- Masn, roman [Masses: A Novel]. Warsaw: Farlag Kultur-lige. 1929.
- Dos hoyz afn barg, roman [The House on the Mountain: A Novel]. Warsaw: Farlag Kultur-lige. 1934.
- Tsvey veltn [Two Worlds]. Warsaw: Farlag Kultur-lige. 1935.
- Di printsesin, un andere dertseylungen [The Princess, and Other Stories]. Warsaw: Farlag Kultur-lige. 1938.
- Geklibene shriftn [Selected Writings]. Warsaw: Yidish-bukh. 1950.
