Sons and Daughters

"Sons and Daughters," a finalist for the 2026 PEN America Award for Translation, offers a poignant and humorous exploration of Rabbi Sholem Shachne Katzenellenbogen's family as they navigate the tumultuous changes of the 1930s. Set in the small village of Morehdalye, the novel captures the tension between the traditional Yiddish world and the encroaching modernity threatening to upend their lives. Through rich characterizations and the interplay of faith, family, and secularism, Chaim Grade's masterpiece paints a vivid portrait of a culture on the cusp of disappearance. This anticipated English translation presents a heartfelt tribute to a bygone era and its complexities.