Translator Talk | Adventures of Max Spitzkopf: The Yiddish Sherlock Holmes, with Mikhl Yashinsky

Description

Join us for a free virtual talk on Thursday, February 26, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m. ET Celebrate the new translation of Jonas Kreppel’s Adventures of Max Spitzkopf, the complete series of 15 mysteries starring the Viennese “king of detectives,” Max Spitzkopf. Translator Mikhl Yashinsky will share insights into the origins of these stories, how they captivated readers and achieved pulp fiction status, and why they were beloved by figures such as Isaac Bashevis Singer. He’ll also discuss the recovery and translation of the tales for contemporary audiences. First published in the early 1900s, these pulp fiction adventures introduced readers to Max Spitzkopf, an undefeated foe of villains and passionate defender of the Jewish people. When Spitzkopf is summoned, no matter how dangerous or seemingly hopeless the case, justice is assured. With physical bravery, intellectual ingenuity, and stealthy disguises, the super sleuth outwits criminals and restores moral order to the world. Mikhl Yashinsky is a translator, playwright-lyricist, singer-actor, and teacher. He has taught Yiddish at Columbia University, the University of Michigan, and Tel Aviv University. He co-authored the Yiddish Book Center’s award-winning Yid¬dish language textbook, In eynem (White Goat Press), and his translation of Ester-Rokhl Kaminska’s memoirs, The Mother of Yiddish Theatre, is forthcoming from Bloomsbury.