Lamed Shapiro

Lamed Shapiro (1878–1948), also known as Levi Yehoshua Shapiro, was an American Yiddish author whose work is noted for its dark themes, including murder, rape, and cannibalism. Born in Rzhyshchiv, Ukraine, Shapiro experienced significant personal turmoil, including a pogrom, attempted suicide, and conscription into the Russian Army, which influenced his writing. After moving to America in 1905, he published his first works, including *Di Fligl* (1907) and *Itsikl Mamzer* (1908), gaining recognition for his grim depictions of violence and psychological realism. Shapiro's career flourished with the publication of stories such as "The Kiss" (1907) and "In The Dead Town" (1910). By 1919, he had written two of his most acclaimed works: *White Challah* and *The Jewish Government*, which are celebrated for their complexity and nuance. He moved to Los Angeles in 1921 but returned to New York after his wife's death in 1927. Shapiro worked for various literary periodicals and was involved with the Communist Party before returning to LA in 1939, where he lived in poverty. Shapiro's final years were marked by financial struggles and alcoholism. He died in 1948 in Los Angeles while living in a friend's garage and was buried at Mount Zion Cemetery next to his wife. His works, including *Afn yam* (1910) and *Di yidishe melukhe un andere zakhn* (1919), have been translated into English and remain influential in Yiddish literature. Shapiro's dark and psychologically complex storytelling has earned him a place among the notable writers of his era, with critics like David G. Roskies ...