Bücherei

The most popular book series published by Schocken Verlag in Berlin was named the Bücherei. Schocken modeled it after Insel Verlag, a German publisher famous for its series of beautifully designed and inexpensive popular books. “Appearing in rapid sequence,” Schocken said, the Bücherei’s aim was to “build a superstructure of Jewish culture, accessible to everyone.”

The public response was overwhelming. Writing in a German publication, Hermann Hesse attributed the Bücherei’s “immense magic” to its editors’ uncanny ability to “bring to light great treasures of unknown literary works.” The eclectic collection included fiction, medieval and modern Hebrew poetry, works of history, philosophy and mysticism, as well as folklore and modern belles lettres.

The Schocken Bücherei operated like a book-of-the-month club, publishing 92 volumes over a five-year period. Notable volumes included Kafka’s fable Before the Law, Scholem’s translation of Agnon’s Bridal Canopy; Rosenzweig’s translation of Yehuda Halevi, Buber’s Tales of the Hasidim; Wolfskehl’s poem The Voice Speaks, and Heine’s Poetry and Thought.