Dreamers of the Ghetto is a title associated with two distinct subjects: a literary work by the British author Israel Zangwill, and an American musical group.
Literary Work
Dreamers of the Ghetto (1898) is a collection of essays and fictionalized biographical sketches by Israel Zangwill (1864–1926), a British author of Jewish descent. The work chronicles the lives of notable Jewish thinkers and historical figures who emerged from the ghetto, emphasizing their intellectual, artistic, and philosophical struggles against societal constraints. The book is part of Zangwill's broader "of the Ghetto" series, which also includes Children of the Ghetto (1892), Grandchildren of the Ghetto (1892), Ghetto Tragedies (1899), and Ghetto Comedies (1907).
The essays in Dreamers of the Ghetto profile prominent Jewish figures, including the philosopher Baruch Spinoza, the poet Heinrich Heine, and the political activist Ferdinand Lassalle. In his preface, Zangwill described the work as "a Chronicle of Dreamers, who have arisen in the Ghetto from its establishment in the sixteenth century to its slow breaking-up in our own day." The book explores themes of Jewish identity, assimilation, intellectual ambition, and the tension between religious tradition and modern thought.
Musical Group
Dreamers of the Ghetto is also the name of an American indie rock band from Bloomington, Indiana. The band was formed in 2010 by members Luke Aaron Jones (vocals, bass, synthesizers), Jonathan Jones (guitars, vocals, synthesizers, percussion), Lauren Jones (synthesizers, backing vocals), and Marty Sprowles (drums, percussion). The group's name was taken from Zangwill's 1898 collection of essays.
The band released its debut album, Enemy/Lover, through the Temporary Residence label in October 2011. The album received mixed critical reception, with reviewers drawing comparisons to artists such as My Bloody Valentine, TV on the Radio, U2, and Simple Minds. The band was also featured on NPR's World Cafe: Next and on KCRW's music blog during 2011.
References
- Zangwill, Israel. Dreamers of the Ghetto. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1898.
- Wikipedia, "Dreamers of the Ghetto" (band article).
- Wikipedia, "Israel Zangwill."
