Hebrew Writers on Writing

Book Overview

'Hebrew Writers on Writing' offers a fresh look at well-known figures such as Haim Nahman Bialik and Yehuda Amichai, while also introducing a host of fascinating yet little- or never-before translated... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1595340521
• ISBN13: 9781595340528
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: Trinity University Press
• Length: 321 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A great collection

This book is a who's who in modern Hebrew writing. Hebrew as a language has a rich history, but also one that is different from many other living languages. It took a hiatus of sorts during which it became a scholarly and religious language, but not a day-to-day language for centuries; Jews in different parts of the world spoke as part of their routine languages of the dominant cultures or other languages (Yiddish, for example) that kept the special character of Hebrew as distinct from day-to-day life. The invigoration of Hebrew as a living language of a living people for all aspects of life, not just religious, really began as a twentieth-century project in the literature of European and returning-to-Israel Jews, almost all of whom grew up speaking languages in addition to if not other than Hebrew as their primary tongues. The influence of other languages on Hebrew is interesting to note, but that Hebrew has developed its own character also is important. As an undergraduate a quarter-century ago, I took a course in modern Hebrew Literature. The nation of Israel then was not yet 40 years old, and yet the body of material that constituted our subject was already substantial and growing. Poetry, short stories, novels, prose of different varieties are all part of this area, and Cole's book does a good job at introducing this topic to the reader new to the area as well as to those who have had some acquaintance with the subject. I concur with another reviewer who speaks of the volume being too short - there is so much more that could be incorporated, but I am also reminded of an old tale a rabbi once told me about never getting every book I could possibly want, and to leave my shelves always with some unfulfilled want; perhaps this book does the same (intentionally or no) in order to motivate the reader on to other texts, as it surely will do.

A valuable contribution

In his pioneering anthology of Hebrew poetry though the ages the poet T. Carmi provides examples of a more than three- thousand year old, continuous tradition in Hebrew Writing. Peter Cole has a more modest aim in this present anthology of Hebrew writers on Writing. He begins with the nineteenth century. He chooses as opening writer the relatively neglected David Frishman whose contribution to Hebrew culture was not primarily connected with Zionist ideology. He too chooses a number of writers who who either lived largely in Diaspora, or do not center on the renewal of Jewish sovereignty in the Holy Land. Yet the return to the land of Israel is the central factor in this great outburst of Hebrew creativity. However fraught with obstacles that return was, and this is made clear in the greatest modern Hebrew Literature, Agnon to Oz( Both of whom are excerpted here, Agnon in his Nobel Speech, Oz in an excerpt on Agnon from the masterwork, "A Tale of Love and Darkness") this was the dream and the difficulty. My sense is that Cole would somewhat downplay this. But he nonetheless has put together an anthology on Writing which contains many striking and insightful pieces of writing. It also includes introductions to the life and work of each writer, short essays by Cole which are exellently done. An all- star cast is gathered, though a number of greats omitted. A reader of Hebrew would have loved a parallel- Hebrew text. The fun of comparing text and translation is not provided. One cannot help be struck by the variety of the pieces , from the religious writing of Rabbi Abraham Yitzhak Ha- Kohen Kook to the outsider perspective provided by a Palestinian Arab Israeli Anton Shammas. Among my favorites were the short single poem by Avraham ben Yitzhaq, Amos Oz on his meetings with Agnon, Zelda 's 'Letter to a Young Writer'. Cole, a poet himself, and a translator of a highly praised anthology of Medieval Hebrew verse also provides a brief introduction to the volume as a whole in which he focuses on the role of the Enlightentment in creating Hebrew secular writing. The great Agnon Anthology on Writing is a far more profound document than this present one. And it seems to be in would have been right and appropriate for Cole to have published some pieces by his illustrious predecessor T. Carmi. But on the whole this is a valuable volume especially I would guess for those who do not know the Hebrew writing in the original.

A welcome addition to Hebrew and Judaic Studies shelves

Hebrew Writers on Writing is an anthology of tracts from a vast array of Hebrew writers, about the wonder of finding one's voice through writing, the spiritual dimensions of communication, the nuances of how language changes with time, the impact that modern technology and record keeping abilities have on the evolution of writing, and much more, all from a distinctly Jewish perspective. Each short piece is prefaced with a brief biography of the author. A deeply thought-provoking collection of reflections that amateur and professional writers alike are sure to find inspirational. "Hebrew, a synchronic language, holds certain precise ethical and philosophical value concepts that belong only to Hebrew and to Judaism that are really untranslatable. Such words cannot be learned simply as words, without their philosophical context. Some are whole teachings. Thus the concept teshuva (repentance) is not what we think of today as repentance, or more commonly, becoming religious. In Judaism it covers a process involving a complete change of personality - sometimes even a change of name, work, and address. This significance is all but lost in its modern usage." A welcome addition to Hebrew and Judaic Studies shelves, as well as being a worthy contribution to "The Writer's World" series.

Helpful for understanding the Hebrew language & culture

My daughter is studying the Hebrew language, and that peaked our interest in this book. We enjoyed the samples offered and the commentaries very much. Also, although the book could've included more writings, it is a very good reference and has increased my daughter's understanding of many of the works she is studying. Also, this book is very well-written. I've read (or attempted to read) similar books and they tend to be very dull. This book is very interesting and brings the writers and their selections to life.

A Look at Hebrew Literature in Translation

Cole, Peter, editor. "Hebrew Writers on Writing", Trinity University Press, 2008. A Look at Hebrew Literature in Translation Amos Lassen Peter Cole has edited an amazing collection of Hebrew literature which includes the giants writing in the language of the Bible. The book shows the shift both politically and culturally that brought Hebrew from being a dead language to becoming one that is both vibrant and very much alive. Some of the authors in this anthology have never been translated before and some have had only very meager translations. Authors include Haim Nachman Bialik, Shaul Tchernichowsky, Gershon Shofman, S.Y. Agnon, Uzi Zvi Greenberg, David Vogel, Avraham Shlonsky, Lea Goldberg, Yehuda Amichai who are among the better known. Among the newly translated are S. Yizhar, Noah Stern, Ya'akov Steinberg, and Haviva Pedaya to name just a few. I felt somewhat homesick reading this wonderful collection and it is a valuable contribution to not only the field of Hebrew literature but to literature in general. It is an intimate look at a literature that the world knows too little of.