Israeli literature

Israeli literature is the 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.

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 (he:יוסף חיים ברנר) "saw flaws everywhere"; "favored the rabbinical and medieval forms of spoken Hebrew". Lived 1881–1921.
• Shmuel Yosef Agnon (he:שמואל יוסף עגנון) 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". Native-born writers were conflicted "between individualism and commitment to society and state"; characterized by "social realism".

• S. Yizhar (he:ס. יזהר)
• Moshe Shamir (he:משה שמיר)
• Hanoch Bartov (he:חנוך ברטוב)
• Haim Gouri (he:חיים גורי)
• Benjamin Tammuz (he:בנימין תמוז)
• Aharon Megged (he:אהרון מגד)
• Igal Mossinsohn (he:יגאל מוסינזון, he:יגאל מוסנזון)

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".

• Abraham B. Yehoshua (he:אברהם בולי יהושע)
• Amos Oz (he:עמוס עוז)
• Yoram Kaniuk (he:יורם קניוק)
• Yaakov Shabtai (he:יעקב שבתאי)
• Yeshayahu Koren (he:ישעיהו קורן)

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 (he:אהרון אפלפלד)
• David Shahar (he:דוד שחר)
• David Grossman (he:דויד גרוסמן)
• Meir Shalev (he:מאיר שלו)

About the Holocaust

The Holocaust was put in fresh perspective by Appelfeld and Grossman, as well as (among others):

• Yehoshua Kenaz (he:יהושע קנז)
• Yonat and Alexander Sened (he:יונת ואלכסנדר סנד)
• Nava Semel (he:נאוה סמל)
• Esty G. Hayim

New themes

New themes arose:

• Anton Shammas (he:אנטון שמאס), "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:יוסל בירשטיין): the ultra-Orthodox world
• Haim Be`er (he:חיים באר): "Jerusalem's Hassidic courts"
• Dov Elbaum, Michal Govrin: additional writers in the "religious dimension" (Furstenberg)
• Yitzhak Orpaz-Auerbach (he:יצחק אוורבוך אורפז): the "unbeliever" when "fundamentalism is gaining"
• Sami Michael (he:סמי מיכאל), Albert Suissa (he:אלברט סויסה), Dan Benaya Seri (he:דן בניה-סרי): "the place of... new immigrants from Arab countries"
• Shimon Ballas (he:שמעון בלס), Eli Amir (he:אלי אמיר), Amnon Shamosh (he:אמנון שמוש), Yitzhak Gormezano-Goren: additional writers about the Sephardi experience
• Yitzhak Ben-Ner (he:יצחק בן נר), 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 (he:עמליה כהנא-כרמון)
• Hannah Bat-Shahar (he:חנה בת שחר) – erotica
• Shulamith Hareven (he:שולמית הראבן)
• Shulamit Lapid (he:שולמית לפיד)
• Ruth Almog (he:רות אלמוג)
• Savyon Liebrecht (he:סביון ליברכט)
• Batya Gur (he:בתיה גור)
• Eleonora Lev
• Yehudit Hendel (he:יהודית הנדל)
• Leah Aini
• Nurit Zarchi (he:נורית זרחי)

Women authors of detective fiction

Some of these women (Lapid and Gur) began writing detective fiction, as well as:

• Michael Barak, pseudonym of Michael Ben Zohar, a pioneer of Hebrew detective fiction
• Amnon Dankner (he:אמנון דנקנר)
• Ram Oren (he:רם אורן)
• Amnon Jackont
• Adiva Geffen

The younger generation

A "younger generation" of authors that is "more universalistic", "alienated, surreal and idiosyncratic":

• Judith Katzir (he:יהודית קציר)
• Etgar Keret (he:אתגר קרת): mostly short stories
• Orly Castel-Bloom (he:אורלי קסטל בלום): mostly short stories
• Gadi Taub (he:גדי טאוב)
• Irit Linoor (he:עירית לינור): popular fiction, humorous romance and suspense
• Mira Magen (he:מירה מגן): experiences of ultra-orthodox women
• Shimon Zimmer
• Lily Perry (he:לילי פרי)
• Yitzhak Laor (he:יצחק לאור)

Some postmodernist writers:

• Itamar Levy
• Yoel Hoffmann (he:יואל הופמן)

Late 1990s

A new front of young authors active in the late 1990's and new millenium (see also [1])

• Dorit Rabinyan (he:דורית רבינין)
• Yael Hadaya (he:יעל הדיה)
• 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

Authors of childrens' books

Writing for children:

• Uri Orlev (he:אורי אורלב)
• Yehuda Atlas (he:יהודה אטלס): 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 (he:גילה אלמגור): mostly autobiographical novels
• Daniella Carmi
• 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: "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. [2],
• Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "CULTURE- Literature", 2003. [3]
• Weill, Asher. "Culture in Israel- On the Cusp of the Millennium." Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2000. [4].

See also

• List of Hebrew language authors
• List of Hebrew language poets
• List of Hebrew language playwrights