Israeli literature
Encyclopedia : I : IS : ISR : Israeli literature
literature of the people or State of Israel.
It is mostly written in Hebrew and the history of Israeli literature is interesting because it is mostly the product of the revival of the Hebrew language as a spoken language in modern times.
Since the middle of the nineteenth century, the Hebrew language was increasingly used for speaking as well as writing modern forms of prose, poetry and drama.
By law, the Jewish National and University Library of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem receives two copies of each book published in Israel. In 2004 it reported that it received 6,436 new books. Most of them were published in Hebrew, and most of those books published in Hebrew were original to the Hebrew language. Almost 8% of the 2004 crop were children's books and another 4% were textbooks. According to the type of publisher, the books were 55% commercial, 14% self-published, 10% governmental, 7% educational, and 14% published by other types of organizations. [link]
History
The selection of authors mentioned here is according to the articles under References below. Quoted text is from the 2003 article except where indicated otherwise.
The first Modern Hebrew prose in the Land of Israel was written by "immigrant authors", for example:
- Yosef Haim Brenner "saw flaws everywhere"; "favored the rabbinical and medieval forms of spoken Hebrew". Lived 1881-1921.
- Shmuel Yosef Agnon addressed "major contemporary spiritual concerns"; loss of tradition, faith, and identity; "inner uncertainties"; tragedy and the grotesque. Lived 1888-1970.
The 1940s and 1950s
During the 1940s and 1950s: "the War of Independence Generation" ([he]). Native-born writers were conflicted "between individualism and commitment to society and state"; characterized by "social realism".
- S. Yizhar
- Moshe Shamir
- Hanoch Bartov
- Haim Gouri
- Benjamin Tammuz
- Aharon Megged
- Igal Mossinsohn ([he])
The 1960s
During the early 1960s: "Very influential" writers followed less "ideological patterns", and wrote more about the individual; "psychological realism, allegory and symbolism"; "speculation and skepticism regarding... conventions".
- A. B. Yehoshua
- Amos Oz
- Yoram Kaniuk ([he])
- Yaakov Shabtai ([he])
- Yeshayahu Koren ([he])
The 1980s and 1990s
During the 1980s and 1990s: "Intense literary activity", aimed at "enabling readers to understand themselves", characterized "three generations" of authors, including Oz, Yehoshua, Kaniuk, as well as:
- Aharon Appelfeld
- David Shahar ([he])
- David Grossman
- Meir Shalev
About the Holocaust
The Holocaust was put in fresh perspective by Appelfeld and Grossman, as well as (among others):- Yehoshua Kenaz ([he])
- Yonat and Alexander Sened ([he])
- Nava Semel ([he])
- Esty G. Hayim
New themes
New themes arose:- Anton Shammas ([he]), "an Arab-Christian writer": "the Arab village"; however, popular Israeli Arab writers such as Emil Habibi (a recipient of the Israel Prize) continue to prefer writing in Arabic.
- Yossl Birstein ([he]): the Haredi world
- Haim Be`er: "Jerusalem's Hassidic courts"
- Dov Elbaum, Michal Govrin: additional writers in the "religious dimension" (Furstenberg)
- Yitzhak Orpaz-Auerbach: the "unbeliever" when "fundamentalism is gaining"
- Sami Michael, Albert Suissa ([he]), Dan Benaya Seri ([he]): "the place of... new immigrants from Arab countries"
- Shimon Ballas ([he]), Eli Amir ([he]), Amnon Shamosh, Yitzhak Gormezano-Goren: additional writers about the Sephardi experience
- Yitzhak Ben-Ner ([he]), as well as Kaniuk, Grossman, Oz: "universal themes such as democracy and righteousness" during "constant challenges"
Women authors
Women authors became more prominent on "general topics", as well as women's role within "Jewish tradition and... in the Zionist enterprise":- Amalia Kahana-Carmon
- Hannah Bat-Shahar ([he]) - erotica
- Shulamith Hareven
- Shulamit Lapid ([he])
- Ruth Almog ([he])
- Savyon Liebrecht ([he])
- Batya Gur
- Eleonora Lev
- Yehudit Hendel ([he])
- Leah Aini
- Nurit Zarchi
Detective fiction
Some of the above women (Lapid and Gur) began writing detective fiction, as well as the following men and women:- Michael Barak, pen name of Michael Bar-Zohar, writing Hebrew detective fiction at least as early as 1972
- Amnon Dankner ([he])
- Ram Oren
- Amnon Jacont
- Adiva Geffen
The younger generation
A "younger generation" of authors that is "more universalistic", "alienated, surreal and idiosyncratic":
- Judith Katzir ([he])
- Etgar Keret: mostly short stories
- Orly Castel-Bloom ([he]): mostly short stories
- Gadi Taub ([he])
- Irit Linur: popular fiction, humorous romance and suspense
- Mira Magen ([he]): experiences of Haredi women
- Shimon Zimmer
- Lily Perry ([he])
- Yitzhak Laor
- Itamar Levy
- Yoel Hoffmann ([he])
Late 1990s
A new front of young authors active in the late 1990's and new millennium (see also [link])
- Dorit Rabinyan ([he])
- Yael Hadaya ([he])
- Alon Hilu
- Dudu Bossi
- Eshkol Nevo
- Moshe Ophir
- Efrat Danon
- Alex Epstein (postmodern)
- Maya Arad (novel in rhyme)
- Shimon Adaf (poetry and a detective novel)
- Yuval Shimoni
- Avner Shavit
- Benny Ziffer
Authors of children's books
Writing for children:
- Uri Orlev
- Yehuda Atlas ([he]): set a trend of writing short poems from a child's perspective
- Ephraim Sidon: satirical writer, often writing for adults under the guise of children's books
- Nira Harel
- Tamar Bergman
- Gila Almagor: mostly autobiographical novels
- Daniella Carmi
- Devorah Omer ([he]): prolific writer for children and youth, awarded Israel Prize (2006)
- Dorit Orgad: prolific writer for pre-teens and young adults
- Michal Snunit: short illustrated books, allegories on spirituality and emotion, popular as gift books for adults
- Alona Frankel ([he]): "Once Upon a Potty"
- Galila Ron-Feder Amit: prolific writer for pre-teens and young adults
- Smadar Shir: prolific writer for pre-teens and young adults
References
- Furstenberg, Rochelle. "The State of the Arts: Israeli Literature." Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1998. [link],
- Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "CULTURE- Literature", 2003. [link]
- Weill, Asher. "Culture in Israel- On the Cusp of the Millennium." Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2000. [link].
See also
- List of Hebrew language authors
- List of Hebrew language poets
- List of Hebrew language playwrights
- Hebrew literature
- Jewish American literature
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