Yankev Glatshteyn (also known as Jacob Glatstein or Jacob Gladstone) (1896–1971) was one of the most important poets of American Yiddish literature. Born in the Polish city of Lublin, Glatshteyn immigrated to New York at age 18, in 1914. In 1919, he helped establish the new Yiddish poetry magazine, In Zikh, ("Inside the Self"), which introduced Anglo-American modernism into Yiddish literature. This literary circle, who became known as the Inzikhistn (Introspectivists), focused on the role of the individual in the modern world, unmarked by Jewish identity, history, or culture. His 1938 poem, "Good night, World," was seen by critics as grappling with modernism, Enlightenment, and traditional Jewish life at a time of profound transition and loss. Glatstein continued to write for the Yiddish press, published many more books of poetry and collected essays, was translated into many languages, and continued to be active in Yiddish literary circles until the end of his life.
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