Introduction to the Illinois Paperback

Michael Shapiro

Translator's Preface

Introduction.--State of Poland in last century

My Grandfather's Housekeeping

First Reminiscences of Youth

Private Education and Independent Study

Jewish Schools--The Joy of being released from them causes a Stiff Foot

My Family is driven into Misery, and an old Servant loses by his great Faithfulness a Christian Burial

New Abode, New Misery--The Talmudist

Joy endureth but a little while

The Pupil knows more than the Teacher--A theft a la Rousseau, which is discovered--``The ungodly provideth, and the righteous putteth it on,''

Love Affairs and Matrimonial Proposals--The Song of Solomon may be used in the service of Matchmaking--A new Modus Lucrandi--Smallpox

I become an object of Contention, get two Wives at once, and am kidnapped at last

My Marriage in my eleventh Year makes me the Slave of my Wife, and procures for me Cudgellings from my Mother-in-Law--A Ghost of Flesh and Blood

The Secrets of the Marriage State--Prince Radzivil, or what is not all allowed in Poland?

Endeavour after mental Culture amid ceaseless Struggles with Misery of every Kind

I study the Cabbalah, and become at last a Physician

A brief Exposition of the Jewish Religion from its Origin down to the most recent Times

Jewish Piety and Penances

Friendship and Enthusiasm

The Life of a Family Tutor

Also on a Secret Society, and therefore a Long Chapter

Continuation of the Former, and also Something about Religious Mysteries

Journeys to Konigsherg, Stettin, and Berlin, for the purpose of extending my Knowledge of Men

Deepest Stage of Misery, and Deliverance

Arrival in Berlin--Acquaintances--Mendelssohn--Desperate Study of Metaphysics--Doubts--Lectures on Locke and Adelung

Mendelssohn--A Chapter devoted to the Memory of a worthy Friend

My Aversion at first for Belles Lettres, and my subsequent Conversion--Departure from Berlin--Sojourn in Hamburg--I drown myself in the same way as a bad Actor shoots himself--An old Fool of a Woman falls in Love with me, but her Addresses are rejected

I return to Hamburg -- A Lutheran Pastor pronounces me to be a scabby Sheep, and unworthy of Admission into the Christian Fold--I enter the Gymnasium, and frighten the Chief Rabbi out of his Wits

Third journey to Berlin--Frustrated Plan of Hebrew Authorship--Journey to Breslau--Divorce

Fourth journey to Berlin--Unfortunate circumstances--Help--Study of Kant's Writings--Characteristic of my own Works

Concluding Chapter