The King of Schnorrers

The King of Schnorrers

The novel revolves around the life of a young Jewish man who becomes embroiled in various schemes to make money through marriage and other means. He navigates a complex web of relationships and financial transactions, often finding himself in precarious situations. As he navigates his way through London's East End, he encounters a cast of characters that include con artists, swindlers, and other individuals who are also trying to make their fortunes. Through his experiences, the protagonist learns valuable lessons about the nature of money, relationships, and identity. The novel explores themes of Jewish identity, class, and social status in late 19th-century London. It critiques the notion that wealth and material possessions can bring happiness and fulfillment, instead highlighting the emptiness and superficiality of these pursuits. Throughout the novel, the protagonist's relationships with women are a central focus, particularly his interactions with a young woman who becomes embroiled in one of his schemes. The novel raises questions about the nature of love, loyalty, and commitment in the face of financial instability and social uncertainty. Ultimately, the novel presents a nuanced portrayal of the complexities of human relationships and the challenges of navigating a rapidly changing urban environment.

By Israel Zangwill · First published 1884 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Historical Fiction · 6 chapters · 44,867 words

First lines

In the days when Lord George Gordon became a Jew, and was suspected of insanity; when, out of respect for the prophecies, England denied her Jews every civic right except that of paying taxes; when the _Gentleman's Magazine_ had ill words for the infidel alien; when Jewish marriages were invalid and bequests for Hebrew colleges void; when a prophet prophesying Primrose Day would have been set in the stocks, though Pitt inclined his private ear to Benjamin Goldsmid's views on the foreign loans -- in those days, when Tevele Schiff was Rabbi in Israel, and Dr. de Falk, the Master of the Tetragrammaton, saint and Cabbalistic conjuror, flourished in Wellclose Square, and the composer of "The Death of Nelson" was a choir-boy in the Great Synagogue; Joseph Grobstock, pillar of the same, emerged one afternoon into the spring sunshine at the fag-end of the departing stream of worshippers. In his hand was a large canvas bag, and in his eye a twinkle.

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The King of Schnorrers is listed on Textopian as a novel by Israel Zangwill, dated 1884 CE.

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Satire · Comedy · Social Commentary · Jewish Literature · Yiddish Culture · London Setting · 19th Century Fiction · Anti-Semitism · Class Struggle · Poverty and Wealth · Immigration Experience · Cultural Identity

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