The Sixteenth Century Hebrew Book (2 Vols): An Abridged Thesaurus (Brill's Jewish Studies)

The Sixteenth Century Hebrew Book is a comprehensive two-volume reference work that provides an in-depth analysis of the Hebrew book production during the sixteenth century. Written by Marvin Heller, this work focuses on the most well-known Hebrew books published in the sixteenth century. An excellent guide for scholars and researchers, this book offers an organized and concise dictionary-like synopsis of the books, including the author, printer, genre, and subject.

In the first volume, readers are introduced to a detailed overview of Hebrew book production during the sixteenth century. It covers the different factors that influenced the production of these books, including the role of printers, authors, publishers, patrons, and language. This part of the book provides an abundance of information about the environment in which Hebrew books were created and distributed during the sixteenth century.

The second volume provides concise, A-Z entries covering the books themselves. For each work the author provides a synopsis of the book's contents and an analysis of its place in the evolving panorama of Jewish literature. Entries provide information of the printers, authors, genre, subject, and the edition that is most authoritative. The entries conclude with an extensive bibliography for further reading. In addition, the author carefully traces the evolution of the typography, layout, and style of these books, providing readers with a unique perspective on the history of the Hebrew book.

Overall, the Sixteenth Century Hebrew Book is an excellent resource that charts and analyses Hebrew book production during one of the most exciting and transformative centuries in the history of Hebrew literature. Marilyn Heller's abridgement of the earlier 3 volume study will be welcomed by many. It provides valuable information for scholars of Jewish history, religion, and literature, as well as for those with an interest in book history, the history of printing, and early modern European history. This book is a must-have for anyone seeking to understand the evolution, production, and dissemination of Hebrew books in the sixteenth century.