Kohn, Salomon

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KOHN, SALOMON

KOHN, SALOMON (1825–1904), Prague German-language novelist. Despite their illogical plots, his books were avidly read, frequently reprinted, and translated into many languages. As he signed his books S.K. only, he later had difficulty in establishing his copyright. His first short story, Kaddischvor Kol Nidre, was published in Wolf *Pascheles'Sippurim in 1847. His most famous work was the novel Gabriel (18541), set in the period of the Thirty-Years War. His Prager Ghettobilder (18841) and Neue Ghettobilder (18861) are valuable documents on Jewish life in 18th- and 19th-century Prague. A strictly observant Jew, he was a member of the board of the Prague community for 40 years.

bibliography:

A. Kohut, Beruehmte israelitische Maenner und Frauen, 2 (1901), 29–31; V. Marcus, in: Kalendář česko-židovský, 52 (1932/33), 162–5; Věstník židovské nábozenské obce v Praze, 27:1 (1965), 9; Oesterreichisches biographisches Lexikon, 4 (1969), 66–67 (with bibliography).