Raised as both a Russian and a Jew in the former Soviet Union, Shrayer (Russian and English, Boston College) presents this major effort toward a canon of Russian-language writings by Jewish
writers as "simultaneously a Jewish-Russian literary history, an encyclopedic compendium, and a collection of individual literary works." He introduces the pivotal issue of dual identities,
which remains a challenge for Diasporic writers, reflected in this prolific literature, and supplies introductory essays to each of the volume's 11 chronological sections. Authors covered range
from Leyba Nevakhovich (Lament of the Daughter of Judah, 1803), to post-Soviet poet Yuri Leving. V.1 contains a historian's concise survey of Jewish-Russian history, 1772-1953, and a
corresponding bibliography organized by era up to the postwar Stalinist period. V.2 continues this history and references to 2001. Indexing is by translator, author, and names, works, and
subjects. Annotation 穢2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
