Mottke, the Thief

work by Asch

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July 1, 2026

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Mottke, the Thief is a novel by Sholem Asch, a prominent Yiddish writer. Published in 1916, the work is noted for its graphic portrayal of the criminal underworld in Warsaw, focusing on thieves and prostitutes. It is considered part of Asch's early period, which often depicted the tragicomic aspects of life in Eastern European Jewish towns, balancing traditional Jewish life with the drive for emancipation. Asch's writing was characterized by vitality and naturalism, making his works widely translated and popular in Europe and the United States.12

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Sholem Asch
…1648, and Motke ganef (1916; Mottke, the Thief)—and the play Got fun nekome (1907; The God of Vengeance), about a Jewish brothel owner whose daughter has a lesbian relationship with one of her father’s prostitutes. The play was produced in Berlin by Max Reinhardt in 1910 but banned elsewhere. Asch…
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…1648, and Motke ganef (1916; Mottke, the Thief)—and the play Got fun nekome (1907; The God of Vengeance), about a Jewish brothel owner whose daughter has a lesbian relationship with one of her father’s prostitutes. The play was produced in Berlin by Max Reinhardt in 1910 but banned elsewhere. Asch…
Read More