From the citation for the 2011 Kulczycki Book Prize for Polish Studies, awarded for Volumes I and II
‘A truly landmark study of east European Jewish history for the mid-fourteenth century to the out brake of World War I. This work is an invaluable synthetic exposition of Jewish civilisation in Poland and Russia that pays close attention to the larger historical context in which Jewish history unfolded in this area. While exhaustive in presenting historical detail and utilizing available sources and data of all types, Polonsky is also masterful in conveying the texture of Jewish life in different regions during each period… an impressive synthesis of a vast topic and vast amount of information… this study will become a “go to” reference for scholars of east European Jwewish history for a long time to come.’
