Bovo-Bukh

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 1506 to 1508. Sol Liptzin described it as "the most outstanding poetic work in Old Yiddish."^[1]

Bovo-Bukh

Title page of Printed Edition of Elia Levita's Bovo-Bukh, Isny (Germany), circa 1541
Author	Elia Levita
Original title	בָּבָא דְאַנְטוֹנָא
Language	Yiddish
Genre	Chivalric romance
Publication date	1541
Publication place	Papal States

The Bovo-Bukh became well-known 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]

Plot summary

The story, derived from the Anglo-Norman romance of Bevis of Hampton, tells the tale of Bovo and Druzane. Despite the lack of basis in Jewish reality, it differentiates itself from other chivalric romances by using subdued Christian symbols and incorporating Jewish customs.^[1]

The narrative begins with Bovo's young mother plotting to have her elderly husband, the king, killed during a hunt. Following his death, she marries the murderer. The couple attempts to poison Bovo, in the fear that he will seek revenge. He escapes and flees to Flanders, where he becomes a stable boy for a king and falls in love with the king's daughter, Druzane.^[2]

A heathen sultan of Babylonia then arrives with an army of ten thousand warriors, demanding Druzane’s hand in marriage for his ugly son, Lucifer. When the king refuses, war ensues. Bovo, riding the magical horse Pumele and wielding the magic sword Rundele, defeats the sultan's army and kills Lucifer. He is promised Druzane's hand in marriage but is imprisoned in Babylonia for a year.

Believing Bovo to be dead, Druzane agrees to marry a knight named Macabron. On their wedding day, Bovo, disguised as a beggar, appears and flees with Druzane. They hide in a forest where Druzane gives birth to twins. Bovo sets off to find a way back to Flanders but is presumed dead after an encounter with a lion. Druzane returns to Flanders with the twins. Bovo, upon his return, discovers their absence and believes them to be lost. In despair, he joins an army against Antona, kills his stepfather, and claims his rightful crown. Eventually, he reunites with Druzane, who becomes his queen.^[2]

Modern editions

• Elia Levita Bachur's Bovo-Buch: A Translation of the Old Yiddish Edition of 1541 with Introduction and Notes by Elia Levita Bachur, translated and notes by Jerry C. Smith, Fenestra Books, 2003, ISBN 1-58736-160-4.

Original Yiddish editions online

• Modern facsimile edition by Judah A. Joffe of Bovo Bukh at Open Library
• Modern Yiddish translation in verse by M. Knapheis, Bovo Bukh at Open Library