In the following essay from his book-length study of Zangwill, Wohlgelernter explores tragedy and comedy as complementary aspects of Jewish ghetto life in such short story collections as Ghetto Tragedies, Ghetto Comedies, The Celibates' Club, The Grey Wig, and The King of Schnorrers.

In the essay below, Fisch contests the notion that Zangwill was a realist; instead he maintains that Zangwill used realist techniques to teach lessons about the Jews' epic struggle for survival, demonstrating at the same time his ambivalence about the Ghetto.

In the following excerpt, Udelson demonstrates how Zangwill's preoccupation with Jewish survival, his doubts about Zionism, and his belief in the spiritual necessity of Judaism inform his short stories in Ghetto Comedies, Ghetto Tragedies, and his novella The King of Schnorrers.

In the essay below, Winehouse provides background and publication information as well as a critical overview of Zangwill's novella The King of Schnorrers, which he places among Zangwill's most competent comic works.

In the excerpt below, Eisenstein briefly discusses two major themes evident in Children of the Ghetto and several of Zangwill's stories: the tragic and noble character of the Jewish ghetto and the insurmountable schism between different generations of Jews.

In the excerpt below, Jackson approves of Zangwill's holistic portrayal of modern Jewish life, which reveals the soul of a people as well as that of the author.

In the following excerpt, Hindus points out the strengths and limitations in style of Zangwill's work as seen in The King of Schnorrers.

In the following review of Dreamers of the Ghetto, the anonymous critic faults Zangwill for his melodramatic style and ironic tone.

In the following excerpt, the unnamed reviewer praises the exuberance of Zangwill's style in The Celibates' Club.