Farviste Erd, Scorched Earth, by S. Palme. London 1944.

S. Palme was the pen name of Bernard (Berl) Sovinsky.  He was my great-grandmother’s first cousin, born in Miedzyrzec Podlaski (Mezerich in Poland) to Baruch and Chana Sovinsky in 1888.

In his youth he moved to Warsaw and studied painting. He spent some time in the Warsaw Citadel for revolutionary activities. In 1910 he left to join his brother in London. From 1918 to 1922, he lived in Soviet Russia. He debuted in print in 1912 with a poem in the London-based Yidisher Zhurnal (Jewish Journal). He went on to publish poetry in: Yugnt Shtraln (Youth Beams [of Light]), Di Post, Familyen Fraynt (Family Friend), Arbeiter Fraynt (Worker’s Friend), Di Zeit (The Times), and Loshn un Lebn (Language and Life  – click here for one of my copies)—all in London.

The book was printed by the Narodiczky Press in Whitechapel in 1944.  My copy is signed by the author.

His books include:

• In Kholem Land, a Kinder-Shpil in Tsvey Aktn (In Dream Land, a Children’s Play in Two Acts) (London, 1923), 16 pp.;
• Royte Royzn (Red Roses), poetry (London, 1924), 112 pp.;
• Kinder fun Shturem, Novele (Children From the Storm, a Novella), with three drawings by the author (London, 1927), 128 pp.;
• Tsvishn Fir Vent, Novele (Within Four Walls, a Novella) (1940), 67 pp.;
• This book – Farviste Erd, lider un poemen (Scorched Earth, poetry), with illustrations by the author (London, 1944), 92 pp.;
• Ringen un Keyten, lider un poemen (Links and Chains, poetry) (London, 1947), 88 pp.;
• Glokn in Midber and Kinder fun Morgn, a fantazye in 4 bilder (Bells in the Desert; and Children of Tomorrow, a fantasy in four scenes) (London, 1948), 96 pp.;
• Siluetn in Shpigl, lid un poeme (Silhouettes in the Mirror, poetry) (London, 1951), 69 pp.

He also wrote a play entitled Dos Lid Fun Lebn (The song of life), with a prologue and epilogue, which was staged at the Grand Palais Theatre in London in 1942.

He was a painter and sculptor and a teacher at the Workmen’s Circle schools in London.

For more books in Yiddish from my library, click here.

Here is a selection from the book: