Moshe Shamir
Moshe Shamir | |
---|---|
Faction represented in the Knesset | |
1977–1979 | Likud |
1979 | Independent |
1979–1981 | Tehiya-Bnai |
Personal details | |
Born | 15 September 1921 Safed, Mandatory Palestine |
Died | 21 August 2004 | (aged 82)
Moshe Shamir (Hebrew: משה שמיר; 15 September 1921 – 20 August 2004) was an Israeli author, playwright, opinion writer, and public figure. He was the author of a play upon which Israeli film He Walked Through the Fields was based.[1]
Biography
Shamir was born in
In the
Literary and journalism career
Shamir began writing stories at a young age. They immediately attracted attention, and not only for his literary ability. He was always engaged with political problems, always arousing opposition. The first opposition came from Meir Yairi, leader of the left-wing movement to which Shamir belonged, concerning what was perceived as "ideological aberration" in his stories.[citation needed] In hindsight it is difficult to understand what the fuss was about. The stories seem completely innocent and certainly are not hostile or injurious to the kibbutz movement. However, the anger that was aroused against Shamir was so strong that he decided to leave his kibbutz in 1947 for ideological reasons.[citation needed]
Shamir's first story, appearing in print in 1940, dealt with
The hero of With His Own Hands: Elik's Story (1951) is his brother Elik who fell in the War of Independence. The book became an icon of that war. Alik's Story was translated into English, adapted into radio plays, and even merited an adaptation for television. It is one of the greatest Israeli bestsellers of all time, selling to date over 150,000 copies. It became part of the program of study in schools.[citation needed]
Under the Sun (1950) and That You Are Naked (1959) are autobiographical pieces based on his life in the thirties and forties. Shamir wrote additional books about the members of his family: With His Own Heart about his father, and Not Far From the Tree about his family history.[citation needed]
Besides The King of Flesh and Blood, his most translated book was a children's book, The Fifth Wheel (1961). It is about the adventures of a kibbutznik, dispatched to bring a tractor from the port, who at every step meets various and sundry obstacles and adventures.[citation needed]
- Certainly you recall that, in his day, the late Prof. Joseph Klausner wrote, when you published your book The King of Flesh and Blood, these words: "There may sometimes be a writer who is not a historian, but to such an extent?" And now I say: "There may sometimes be a politician who does not recognize the rustling wings of history, but to such an extent?"[citation needed]
Moshe Shamir also wrote poetry. However, most of his trade was in prose. He was a prolific author, publishing more than 25 books in the course of his life.[citation needed]
He died in Rishon LeZion at the age of 83. He was survived by his wife Tzvia.[citation needed]
Political career
He was active in
His shift from left to right took a toll on him as the main literary societies banned him from membership.[citation needed]
Awards
Among the various prizes received by Shamir for his work were the following:
- In 1950, the Ussishkin Prize;[citation needed]
- In 1953, the Brenner Prize;
- In 1955, the Bialik Prize for literature;[3]
- In 1988, the capstone was the Israel Prize, for Hebrew literature.[4]
Works in English translation
- He Walked Through the Fields (1959, as a play), translation of Hu Halach Ba-Sadot (1947)
- Taking the Mountains (1948, play)
- With His Own Hands (1970), translation of Be-Mo Yadav (1951)
- The King of Flesh and Blood (1958), translation of Melech Basar Va-Dam (1954)
- David's Stranger (1965), also with title The Hittite Must Die (1978), translation of Kivsat Ha-Rash (1956)
- The Fifth Wheel (1961), translation of Ha-Galgal Ha-Hamishi (1961)
- My Life With Ishmael (1970, political autobiography), translation of Hayai Im Ishmael (1968)
See also
- List of Bialik Prize recipients
- List of Israel Prize recipients
References
- ^ Israeli Film: A Reference Guide, p. 74
- ^ "Israeli lawmakers move to annex West Bank, one museum at a time - CSMonitor.com". The Christian Science Monitor.
- ^ "List of Bialik Prize recipients 1933-2004 (in Hebrew), Tel Aviv Municipality website" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2007.
- ^ "Israel Prize Recipients from its Conception (in Hebrew)- list 4 - מקבלי פרס ישראל מראשיתו". Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
External links
- Moshe Shamir Institute for Translation of Hebrew Literature
- Moshe Shamir on the Knesset website
- Moshe Shamir Jewish Agency for Israel