“AMOS OZ” INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ISREALI WRITER Yonca Nice

1. “AMOS OZ” INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ISREALI WRITER Yonca Nice

3. Background Information • Born in 1939 in Jerusalem • Family included scholars and teachers, some of whom were militant right-wing Zionists. • Family immigrated in early 1930’s from Russia and Poland • At age 15 left home to live on a kibbutz

4. JERUSALEM

5. LIFE ON KIBBUTZ

6. Background InformationCont. • Studied Philosophy and Literature at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem • Since the Six Day War in 1967, Amos Oz has been actively involved with various groups within the Israeli Peace Movement. He has been one of the leading figures of "Peace Now" since its founding in 1977

7. Background InformationCont. • Fought on the Sinai front during the Six Day War in 1967, as a reserve soldier in a tank unit. • Also on the Golan Heights in the Yom Kippur War in 1973 • Devoted 25 years to Kibbutz Hulda, divided his time to writing, farming, and teaching in the Kibbutz High School • 1986 left Kibbutz for the benefit of his son’s health • Lives in southern town Arad, he is a full Professor and holds the Agnon Chair of Hebrew Literature at the Ben-Gurion University

8. Literary Work • Published 18 books in Hebrew, • 450 articles and essays in Israeli and international magazines and newspapers which have been translated into 30 languages in over 35 countries.

9. Literary Work • 1965 “Where The Jackals Howl” a collection of short stories. which won him his first literary award, a keen readership and a strong literary opposition • 1966 “ Elsewhere Perhaps” As a stage adaptation, it was a major theatrical event in Tel-Aviv in 1982.

10. Literary Work • 1968 “My Michael” perhaps his best known novel • immediately caused a literary and political storm • Over 105,000 copies of the Hebrew edition have been sold • Published, often more than once, in America and various other countries • made into a wonderful film by Dan Wollman in 1975

11. Literary Work • 1971 “Unto Death” A volume of two novellas • considered by many to be some of Oz's most powerful writing. • 1973 “Touch the Water, Touch the Wind,” caused another literary controversy in Israel • 1976 “The Hill Of Evil Councel” brought Amos Oz the prestigious Brenner Prize for Literature

12. Literary Work • 1978 “Soumchi” first children's book -a story of love and adventure • 1979 “Under This Blazing Light” collection of articles and essays on literary, ideological and political issues • 1982 “A Perfect Peace” • 1983 “In the Land of Israel” comprises a series of essays in which Amos Oz describes a journey he made through his own troubled country during Israel- Lebanon War

13. Literary Work • 1987 “Black Box” has broken all records in Israel • Immediately went to No. 1 on the best seller lists in Israel • Translated in to 18 different languages • “Black Box” won Amos Oz the Prix Femina Etranger, France's top literary award for the best foreign novel of that year

14. Literary Work • 1987 “The Slopes of Lebanon” a collection of essays on Israeli and world politics, the Middle East Conflict, and the Holocaust • 1989 “To Know a Woman” • 1991 “Fima” • 1994 “Don't Call It Night” • 1995 “Panther in the Basement” short novel about the last year of the British Administration in Jerusalem

15. Literary Accomplishments • 1991 elected a full member of the Academy of the Hebrew Language • 1992 awarded the German Friedenspreis, one of the most important international peace prizes, which was presented to him by the German President, Richard von Weizsacker. • 1997 awarded the French cross of the Knight of the Légion d'Honneur by President Jacques Chirac

16. Summary • Amos Oz’s background information • Literary Work • Literary Accomplishments

17. QUESTIONS?