Miriam Karpilove (1888-1956) was a prolific and popular writer for the Yiddish press in New York in the early twentieth century, publishing stories, essays, and serialized novels focusing on the lives and perspectives of women.
Her novel, Diary of a Lonely Girl, or the Battle against Free Love, serialized in the newspaper Di varhayt in 1916–1918 and published in book form in 1918, is a first-person account of a single Jewish woman living in New York at the turn of the century and the pressures she experiences in her dating life. (Jessica Kirzane's recent translation has made the novel available in English.) The narrator, who at times waxes lyrical and at times displays an acerbic wit, is deeply unsatisfied with the idea of “free love” advocated by the modern political, intellectual men with whom she has romantic relationships. She demonstrates that “free love” is not really free for women, who, unlike men, face enormous social consequences for such freedom.
This kit gathers together historical materials, images, and excerpts from related literary sources to give context to the novel.
Cover image: Cover illustration from the original printing of Miriam Karpilove's Tage-bukh fun a elende meydel (Diary of a Lonely Girl) in novel form, published by S. Kantrowitz, 1918.
Teachers' guide
Reading and Background
- Jessica Kirzane's English translation of Diary of a Lonely Girl, published by Syracuse University Press in January 2020, can be purchased here. Those interested in learning more about this translation may wish to read the translator’s reflections for the Jewish Women’s Archive blog. Translations of other Miriam Karpilove stories, letters, and essays can be found at Jewish Currents, Another Chicago Magazine, Columbia Journal, Pakn Treger, The Digital Yiddish Theatre Project, and the Bronx Bohemians blog.
- This encyclopedia entry on Miriam Karpilove provides background about her life and work.
- Those wishing to read more about the growing trend of translating women’s prose from Yiddish may appreciate this essay by Madeleine Cohen and this reflection by Anita Norich (with its bibliography) about translating and teaching Yiddish prose by women. This essay by Irena Klepfisz offers background about the ways that women who wrote in Yiddish were previously overlooked.
- Those wishing to read more about the history of courtship and the social pressures of dating in New York in the early twentieth century may enjoy: Elizabeth Alice Clement, Love for Sale: Courting, Treating, and Prostitution in New York City, 1900-1945 (University of North Carolina Press, 2006); Melissa Klapper, Jewish Girls Coming of Age in America, 1860-1920 (NYU Press, 2007); Riv Ellen Prell, Fighting to Become Americans: Assimilation and the Trouble Between Jewish Women and Jewish Men (Beacon Press, 1999), and Susan A Glenn, Daughters of the Shtetl: Life and Labor in the Immigrant Generation (Cornell University Press, 1990).
- For resources on Emma Goldman, see the Jewish Women’s Archive’s exhibit, as well as a digital archive of Emma Goldman's papers at Duke University. This documentary about Goldman from PBS is also an excellent way to learn about this important figure.
- To learn more about Where Are My Children?, see Grace Kim’s essay about the film in the context of the history of birth control and Shelley Stamp’s essay about the film, adapted from her book Lois Weber in Early Hollywood. You can also watch the film on YouTube.