Under this Blazing Light (Canto original series) - Softcover

Oz, Amos

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521576229 ISBN 13: 9780521576222

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1996

Synopsis

"Perhaps most of the essays in this book are substitutes for stories that I have not managed to write," says Amos Oz in the preface to Under This Blazing Light. Published for the first time in English, this collection of essays reveals the personal and political thoughts of Israel's most celebrated novelist. The essays in this volume put a unique perspective on the author's own experiences and development, and reveal a complex and deeply human figure of practical political influence as well as of significant literary stature. Oz's refreshing blend of skepticism and idealism will win for him new readers, while delighting those who will recognize here the qualities evident in his other writings. Relevant in light of recent developments in the Middle East, the topics covered include an examination of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a dispute between "Right and Right"; a look at the meaning of socialism in the Israeli context; reflections on the concept of "Homeland" and on the nature of the Kibbutz; and reflections on the character of Zionism. The essays also include portraits of several Jewish writers and thinkers whose ideas and themes in one way or another have proved influential or determinative for Amos Oz himself. Amos Oz is widely considered to be Israel's most famous living writer. His fifteen books include My Michael, Touch the Water, Touch the Wind, In the Land of Israel, Black Box, To Know a Woman, and Fima. His work has been translated into twenty-nine languages, and he has received several major literary awards. He is currently a Professor of Modern Hebrew Literature at Ben-Gurion University.

About this title

Book Description

This collection SH published here in English for the first time SH brings together a number of political, personal, and literary pieces by Israel's most celebrated living writer. Lively, tentative, and undogmatic, Oz's compelling literary insights make for consistently stimulating reading, while his commentary on Israel's cultural and political situation seems more relevant than ever in the light of recent developments. The essays reveal a complex and humane figure of practical political influence and lasting literary stature.

From the Back Cover

This collection - published here in English for the first time - brings together a number of political, personal, and literary pieces by Israel's most celebrated modern novelist. Lively, questioning, and undogmatic, the author's compelling literary insights make for consistently stimulating reading, while his perceptive commentary on Israel's political and cultural situation seems more relevant then ever in the light of current developments in the Middle East. Topics covered include: an examination of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a dispute between 'right and right'; reflections on the character of Zionism, on the concept of 'homeland', and on the nature of the kibbutz; the meaning of socialism in the Israeli context; and portraits of several Jewish writers and thinkers whose ideas and themes have proved influential or determinative for Amos Oz himself. These essays, which put a unique perspective on the author's own experiences and development, reveal a complex and humane figure of practical political influence as well as of significant literary stature. Their refreshing blend of scepticism and idealism are sure to win for Oz new readers, while delighting those already familiar with his writings, who will recognise here the many qualities which have generated international critical acclaim.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0521576229
• ISBN 13: 9780521576222
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 220