FELDMAN, WILHELM

FELDMAN, WILHELM (1868–1919), Polish author and critic. Born in Zbaraz, Galicia, he was of ?asidic origin, but advocated assimilation and was in fact converted before his death. As editor of the Cracow monthly Krytyka (1901–14) and as a literary critic, Feldman was prominent in the progressive literary movement, Mloda Polska ("Young Poland"). His critical works include Wspó?czesna literatura polska ("Con-temporary Polish Literature," 1903, 1930⁸), a study which roused considerable controversy owing to his radical opinions; and Wspó?czesna krytyka literacka w Polsce ("Contemporary Literary Criticism in Poland," 1905). Among Feldman's political books are Stronnictwa i programy polityczne w Galicji, 1846–1906 ("Political Parties and Programs in Galicia 1846–1906," 2 vols., 1907); and Dzieje polskiej my?li politycznej w okresie porozbiorowym ("History of Polish Political Thought since the Partitions," 3 vols., 1920). Although Feldman wrote novels on Jewish themes, his unsympathetic attitude became increasingly evident. Two works on Jewish problems were Asymilatorzy syoni?ci i polacy ("Assimilationists, Zionists and Poles," 1893); and Stosunek Adama Mickiewicza do ?ydów ("Mickiewicz's Attitude to the Jews," 1890).

Wilhelm Feldman's son józef (1899–1946), historian, was professor at the Jagellonian University of Cracow. His books include Polska i sprawa wschodnia 1709–1714 ("Poland and the Eastern Question 1709–1714," 1926) and Problem polsko-niemiecki w dziejach (1946, tr. of previous version Polish-German Antagonism in History, 1935).

bibliography:

Pam?ci Wilhelma Feldmana (1927), incls. bibl.; E. Mendlesohn, in: Slavic Review, 18 (1969), 577–90; Ksi?ga Pami?tkowa ku czci Józefa Feldmana (= K. Tymieniecki and Z. Woyciechowski (eds.), Roczniki Historyczne, no. 18, 1949), incls. French summaries; Polski S?ownik Biograficzny, 6 (1948), 396–404. add. bibliography: E. Mendelsohn, "Wilhelm Feldman ve-Alfred Nosig, Hitbollut ve-?iyyonut be-Lvov," in: Galedii, 89–111.

[Moshe Altbauer]