FELDMAN, WILHELM

FELDMAN, WILHELM (1868–1919), Polish author and critic. Born in Zbaraz, Galicia, he was of ḥasidic 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 Współczesna literatura polska ("Con-temporary Polish Literature," 1903, 1930⁸), a study which roused considerable controversy owing to his radical opinions; and Współczesna 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 myśli 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 syoniści i polacy ("Assimilationists, Zionists and Poles," 1893); and Stosunek Adama Mickiewicza do Żydów ("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:

Pamęci Wilhelma Feldmana (1927), incls. bibl.; E. Mendlesohn, in: Slavic Review, 18 (1969), 577–90; Księga Pamiątkowa ku czci Józefa Feldmana (= K. Tymieniecki and Z. Woyciechowski (eds.), Roczniki Historyczne, no. 18, 1949), incls. French summaries; Polski Słownik Biograficzny, 6 (1948), 396–404. add. bibliography: E. Mendelsohn, "Wilhelm Feldman ve-Alfred Nosig, Hitbollut ve-Ẓiyyonut be-Lvov," in: Galedii, 89–111.

[Moshe Altbauer]