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Prince of the Press: How One Collector Built History’s Most Enduring and Remarkable Jewish Library
David Oppenheim (1664–1736), chief rabbi of Prague in the early eighteenth century, built an unparalleled collection of Jewish books and manuscripts, all of which have survived and are housed in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. His remarkable collection testifies to the myriad connections Jews maintained with each other across political borders, and the contacts between Christians and Jews that books facilitated. From contact with the great courts of European nobility to the poor of Jerusalem, his family ties brought him into networks of power, prestige, and opportunity that extended across Europe and the Mediterranean basin. Containing works of law and literature alongside prayer and poetry, his library served rabbinic scholars and communal leaders, introduced old books to new readers, and functioned as a unique source of personal authority that gained him fame throughout Jewish society and beyond. The story of his life and library brings together culture, commerce, and politics, all filtered through this extraordinary collection. Based on the careful reconstruction of an archive that is still visited by scholars today, Joshua Teplitsky’s book offers a window into the social life of Jewish books in early modern Europe.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published January 22, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 20, 2021
Dang how I wanted to love this book. I had gotten it out of the library once before and never got into, but I managed to plow through. Look, this book reflects excellent research skills and a keen academic sensibility. However, it was like eating oatmeal without pouring any water in. It simply didn't flow and it sort of lacked a central story line to help keep us grounded. If this topic is your wheelhouse you'll probably love this. It certainly overlaps with some of my interests, but I ultimately struggled with this one.
May 7, 2020
Prince of the Press is about Rabbi David Oppenheim, (1664–1736), who gathered a large collection Jewish books and manuscripts, that survived to the present day in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. Prince of the Press uses the collection to show how "the myriad connections Jews maintained with each other across political borders, and the contacts between Christians and Jews that books facilitated."
From the description above, I had expected to read a book about how Oppenheim built his library and the ways in which it was used, and how it survived to the present day. While all of that was covered, much more of the book was focused on the functioning of Jewish communities during Oppenheim's life. A lot of behind the scenes wrangling for power and arguing over Jewish law and interpretation. The ways Judaism adapted to court/monarchical rule. Or the distribution of knowledge or information. The survival of the library was not discussed until the conclusion.
Prince of the Press started as Teplitsky's PhD dissertation, and has not moved far beyond it in tone. On completing the book I found the conclusion and the chapter on how the library was built and used to be the most memorable.
I find it somewhat ironic that Teplitsky focused on the ways the Haskamah ("Rabbinic approval" of a printed work) could be abused when this book seems similarly afflicted. The promotional blurbs written on the back of the book spoke of this being "riveting," "vivid" or "engaging" and sure opinions are subjective, but this is a book definitely for specialists or researchers.
From the description above, I had expected to read a book about how Oppenheim built his library and the ways in which it was used, and how it survived to the present day. While all of that was covered, much more of the book was focused on the functioning of Jewish communities during Oppenheim's life. A lot of behind the scenes wrangling for power and arguing over Jewish law and interpretation. The ways Judaism adapted to court/monarchical rule. Or the distribution of knowledge or information. The survival of the library was not discussed until the conclusion.
Prince of the Press started as Teplitsky's PhD dissertation, and has not moved far beyond it in tone. On completing the book I found the conclusion and the chapter on how the library was built and used to be the most memorable.
I find it somewhat ironic that Teplitsky focused on the ways the Haskamah ("Rabbinic approval" of a printed work) could be abused when this book seems similarly afflicted. The promotional blurbs written on the back of the book spoke of this being "riveting," "vivid" or "engaging" and sure opinions are subjective, but this is a book definitely for specialists or researchers.
April 3, 2020
I have a fascination for books about books, and am always up for reading another. This book was different, because it was more about the politics (both world and Jewish) of the time, and how power and wealth was concentrated within a narrow sphere. This led to study and book-ownership likewise being limited to those with means. The author doesn't paint a very sympathetic picture of Oppenheim, leading one to wonder why so many communities sought him as their rabbi. I think there must be more to the man than is conveyed here? Some digressions into byways of Jewish history, including the Emden/Eybshutz controversy, amulets, false Messiahs, and the backroom machinations of rabbinic positions. Overall, less a book about books that about the people and times of the owner of the library profiled. Some interesting tidbits about book publishing and printing. It read a bit like a dissertation, which I'm assuming it was!
June 9, 2021
Wonderful book. If you are interested in book history and/or book circulation history, this is a great read. Highly recommend it.
January 4, 2024
Interesting examination of the interconnection between Oppenheim's library and his political power.
I'd of liked more details about his connection with the Wedeles but that's a niche interest.
I'd of liked more details about his connection with the Wedeles but that's a niche interest.
November 4, 2024
mildly interesting, but no central story line so it was boring as heck!
August 30, 2019
This was an interesting book, but one that I would only tepidly recommend.
The book discusses Rabbi David Oppenheim's library, how he built it, its contents and how he wielded the library for influence and power.
There is significant potential in the subject matter, but the book only presented a cursory overview of the various points of contact without deeply diving into the subject matter.
The book contained some interesting tidbits about printing and the use of books in the early modern age. "Paper" was the most expensive component of the process. Oppenheim prefered the "ashkenaz" writing style as opposed to the "sephard" writing style and even employed a scribe to transcribe works in the sephardic style to the ashkenazic writing. Authors used "approbata" from other authors, rabbis and communal leaders not only to lend support and approval to works, but also to impose copyright restrictions on reprinting the book.
Overall, it was an interesting read and a nice overview of the period and how the library intertwined with the politics and history of the age.
The book discusses Rabbi David Oppenheim's library, how he built it, its contents and how he wielded the library for influence and power.
There is significant potential in the subject matter, but the book only presented a cursory overview of the various points of contact without deeply diving into the subject matter.
The book contained some interesting tidbits about printing and the use of books in the early modern age. "Paper" was the most expensive component of the process. Oppenheim prefered the "ashkenaz" writing style as opposed to the "sephard" writing style and even employed a scribe to transcribe works in the sephardic style to the ashkenazic writing. Authors used "approbata" from other authors, rabbis and communal leaders not only to lend support and approval to works, but also to impose copyright restrictions on reprinting the book.
Overall, it was an interesting read and a nice overview of the period and how the library intertwined with the politics and history of the age.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews