Amos Oz |
Israeli author Amos Oz, "whose work captured the characters and landscapes of his young nation, and who matured into a leading moral voice and an insistent advocate for peace with the Palestinians," died December 28, the New York Times reported. He was 79. "Among a generation of native Israeli writers that included A.B. Yehoshua and David Grossman, Mr. Oz wrote richly in modern Hebrew. The revival of that ancient language was extolled by the founders of the state as a crucial element in forging a new Israeli identity."
Oz published more than a dozen novels, including My Michael and Black Box, as well as collections of short fiction, works of nonfiction and many essays. His work was translated into more than 35 languages. A Tale of Love and Darkness, Oz's acclaimed memoir, was first published in Hebrew in 2002 and became an international bestseller. His other books include Judas; Dear Zealots: Letters from a Divided Land; In the Land of Israel; Black Box; and Where the Jackals Howl & Other Stories.
Among his many honors were the Goethe Prize; the French Knight's Cross of the Légion d'Honneur; the Heinrich Heine Prize; and the Israel Prize. He was a perennial contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Describing him as "one of the greatest authors" Israel has produced, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Oz "deftly and emotionally expressed important aspects of the Israeli experience.... Even though we had differences of opinion in many fields, I greatly appreciate his contributions to the Hebrew language and the renewal of Hebrew literature."
Friend and fellow author David Grossman told the Guardian that "there will not be another Amos Oz, there was only one like him. You can say this about every human being, of course, but there was something unique about Amos. Those who appreciated him--and not only appreciated but needed his clear, sharp voice--have lost someone who made their lives better. When a person like Amos--a man of such grandeur, and I don't say that easily--passes away, the world is diminished a little, it's narrowed down a little."
Bruce Nichols, senior v-p and publisher of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which published Oz's Dear Zealots: Letters from a Divided Land on November 13, said, "We are devastated by the news of Amos Oz's passing. No writer possessed such moral clarity and compassion in equal measure. He spoke truth to power, but he never lost sight of the daily struggles of ordinary living in an extraordinary country."
Oz was buried Monday "at the central Israel kibbutz where he spent much of his formative years," the Times of Israel reported. His friend Mark Glazerman said Oz "knew the evil in mankind but believed fully in the good as well.... Amos felt very deeply invested in the fate of Israel and believed he had a calling and a responsibility to protect it. He was a compass and a conscience for many."
Actor and director Oded Kotler read a letter of condolence sent to the family by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who said Oz's "life was full of cultural and ideological contribution. He defended issues of rights and justice, called for peace and a dignified life [for all]."
Reuven Rivlin, president of Israel and a childhood friend, said he always felt a deep connection to Oz's writing: "When Amos writes about love and darkness, he writes about me. I am there in the small print. Because, Amos, I feel that not only did you write to me, but you really wrote about me. Because of your bravery, your gaze--the most internal and external that there could be. For me and for so many, you lit the streetlights to show the reality of our lives here."