Bovo-Bukh

Bovo-Bukh
Title page of Printed Edition of Elia Levita's Bovo-Bukh, Isny (Germany), circa 1541
AuthorElia Levita
Original titleבָּבָא דְאַנְטוֹנָא
LanguageYiddish
GenreChivalric romance
Publication date
1541
Publication placePapal States

The Bovo-Bukh ("Bovo Bukh," Yiddish: בָּבָא-בּוּך, בּאָבאָ-בּוּך‎; German transliteration: Baba Buch), also known as Buovo d'Antona (בָּבָא דְאַנְטוֹנָא)[spelling?], is a Yiddish chivalric romance written by Elia Levita from 1507 to 1508. Sol Liptzin described it as "the most outstanding poetic work in Old Yiddish."[1]

The Bovo-Bukh gained prominence in the late 18th century under the name Bovo-mayse (literally "Bovo's tale"). This name later evolved into Bubbe meise, meaning "old wives' tale".[1]

  1. ^ a b Liptzin, Solomon (1972). A history of Yiddish literature. Middle Village, N.Y: J. David. ISBN 978-0-8246-0124-9.