She's an iconic Jewish storyteller. She's a widely acclaimed professor and folklorist. She's the one and only Peninnah Schram, and Peninnah's World: A Jewish Life in Stories is her authorized biography, told through individual stories. What is a biography told through stories? Because Schram's art form is storytelling, Peninnah's World dramatizes in vivid scenes her extraordinary trajectory from the New London, Connecticut-born child of immigrant parents steeped in Jewish tradition in the 1930s and '40s to award-winning, New York-based performer, writer and scholar. The book features landmarks such as the old Mohican Hotel in New London and Stern College for Women in Manhattan. Along the way, Schram enjoys close encounters with such luminaries as Noble Laureates Elie Wiesel and Isaac Bashevis Singer, as well as famed Yiddish-theater actress Molly Picon, actor Jeff Goldblum, singer/ethnomusicologist Ruth Rubin and others. Written by storytelling studies professor and performer Caren Schnur Neile, the stories are in a form tailor-made to enjoy and share aloud. At the same time, they serve as models for all those interested in creating their own life and family stories, whatever their background, whether on the page, on the stage, or among neighbors and loved ones. Welcome to Peninnah's World. Prepare to explore your own.
Caren Schnur Neil has taught storytelling studies at Florida Atlantic University for more than two decades. A performance storyteller, she co-hosts The Public Storyteller on South Florida public radio WLRN.
Foreword "The Storyteller" by Peretz Kaminsky Acknowledgments Introduction: Telling the Human Story Timeline Part I: In the Beginning... 1934-1952 Chapter 1: The Pearl Chapter 2: The Elijah Story Chapter 3: Piano Lessons Chapter 4: The Book of Leaves Chapter 5: The Farm Chapter 6: Onstage Chapter 7: The Only Jews Chapter 8: What Joe Wants Part II: A Woman in the World 1952-1967 Chapter 9: Shooting Star Chapter 10: Higher Learning Chapter 11: Tallulah Bankhead and Other Fallen Women Chapter 12: Leaving Home Chapter 13: Paris, By Way of Manhattan Chapter 14: Coming Home Chapter 15: Peklach of Joy Chapter 16: Peklach of Sorrow Part III: A Woman of Valor 1967-present Chapter 17: Those Who Can... Chapter 18: Kaddish Chapter 19: The Storyteller Chapter 20: The Joy of Teaching Chapter 21: The Station That Speaks Your Language Chapter 22: In Print Chapter 23: Strengthen Yourself Chapter 24: Here I Am Chapter 25: Ever After "My Storyteller's Prayer" by Peninnah Schram Glossary of Yiddish and Hebrew Terms Selected Publications and Recordings by Peninnah Schram About the Author
