“AMOS OZ”
INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED
ISREALI WRITER
Yonca Nice
Background Information
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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
JERUSALEM
LIFE ON KIBBUTZ
Background Information
Cont.
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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
Background Information
Cont.
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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
Literary Work
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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.
Literary Work
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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.
Literary Work
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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
Literary Work
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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
Literary Work
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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 IsraelLebanon War
Literary Work
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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
Literary Work
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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
Literary Accomplishments
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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
Summary
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Amos Oz’s background information
Literary Work
Literary Accomplishments
QUESTIONS?