Jewish Themes Arouse Interest in Denmark

In recent months, Danish publishing houses have displayed an unusual interest in books on Jewish themes. As a result, a number of significant books on Jewish themes will shortly be published here.

Recently a Danish publishing firm brought out a translation of “Jews Without Money” by the American writer, Michael Gold. The same firm will soon publish the first part of Sholom Asch’s trilogy, “Petersburg,” and has also announced the forthcoming publication of “A Jew Goes to Palestine” by M. Harthern, formerly the Copennagen correspondent of the Berliner Lokalanzeiger. Herr Harthern was dismissed from his post, which he held for many years, immediately after Hitler’s accession to power. The book contains a number of interesting statements as to the inner upheaval which the writer underwent thanks to Hitlerism.

Of great interest is the announcement of the forthcoming publication of Professor R. Pedersen’s third volume on “Israel.” The series of books deal with the spiritual and cultural life of the Jewish nation in ancient times, based on extensive study of biblical and historical sources.

Another book along the same lines is shortly to be published. The author is Chief Rabbi Dr. M. Friediger and the volume is called, “A History of the Jews,” giving Danish readers for the first time, a concise, short history of the Jewish people. Several chapters are devoted to the history of the Jews in Scandinavian countries.

The well-known Danish journalist, Peter de Gudme, has written a book “From Nebuchadnezer to Herzl,” which deals with the history of the Zionist movement.