Welcome to Detour Books
We offer world literature in English translation with a focus on Yiddish writers for adults and children.
Click here: Spring Baby Binge SALE.
Consider our Curated Gift Sets for the inspired Birthday, Sweet Heart, or Starter Library. Take a look here.
Celebrating National Poetry Month and Indie Bookstore Day in the Swift Shop for April.
Sutzkever and Perl Author Duet. What's this?
Spend $35 or more and choose a FREE used book on Black History, Art, Political Science and more - supplies limited.
Glad you’re back and if this is your first visit send us an email with feedback on our shop and you will receive a Yiddish gift.
Enjoy exploring our tiny marketplace.
Yiddish Literature in Translation
Staff Pick for April
Author Amor Towles tells a sort of fairy tale set during the annihilation of culture in the aftermath of the Communist Revolution in Russia.
The richness of the story often lies in the protagonist’s recounting of everyday events that make up the sum of anyone's existence. The writing is extraordinarily graceful, palpable and sensuous. Towles explores themes of memory, history, loyalty, love and philosophy from a place of restless contentment.
This is a book to read slowly - to savor the delicious diction.
--Emily Hain, Detour Books Editor-at-Large
So what's the story here?
Detour Books: Found in Translation is a curated shop for multicultural literature with a focus on Yiddish writers. We are also a source for curated children's books, exquisite gifts - some with a mid-century modern design bent. We have one-of-a-kind textiles as well as Yup Coffee - one of the finest roasters in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts.
We are evolving into a tiny marketplace with a brisk pace. You may want to sign up for our quarterly-ish e-newsletter so you don't miss our book events, limited edition gifts, daring flash sales and Curated Gift Sets at pleasing prices.
We have a selection of items that are part of our year-round core collection - but keep an eye on the Swift Shop, a 30-day themed collection. Why so quick? Limitations push ingenuity. It's also a conduit for new titles and special offers.
This place is a literary detour - keep following that gentle madness for books we share.
And don't forget the coffee.
Works in English Translation
Go ahead, judge a book by its cover.
Author Marc Caplan expresses his gratitude for the work of Hybrid Calligraphy artist, Ella Ponizovsky Bergelson:
“…for graciously providing a cover illustration that so magnificently articulates an aspect of this project that my words could not and for allowing me to connect the profound literary experiments of her great-grandfather Dovid Bergelson to the aesthetics of contemporary visual culture through her own Berlin-based work.”