About this item
Tracking an underground language and the outcasts who depended on it for their survival.Centuries ago in middle Europe, a coded language appeared, scrawled in graffiti and spoken only by people who were "wiz" (in the know) . This hybrid language, dubbed Rotwelsch, facilitated survival for people in flight -- whether escaping persecution or just down on their luck. It was a language of the road associated with vagabonds, travelers, Jews, and thieves that blended words from Yiddish, Hebrew, German, Romani, Czech, and other European languages and was rich in expressions for police, jail, or experiencing trouble, such as "being in a pickle." This renegade language unsettled those in power, who responded by trying to stamp it out, none more vehemently than the Nazis.
About the Author
Martin Puchner is the Byron and Anita Wien Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Harvard University. His prize-winning books range from philosophy to the arts, and his bestselling Norton Anthology of World Literature and his HarvardX online courses have reached audiences in 160 countries. Website: martinpuchner.comTwitter: @martin_puchner Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xxi24Y
