Amos Oz, Dies Aged 79

Hello Gentle Reader

Amos Oz was a giant of contemporary Israeli literature alongside: David Grossman and A.B. Yehoshua. Globally, Oz was often viewed as a perennial contender for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Yet on December 28^th of two-thousand and eighteen, Amos Oz, lost at the fight against cancer at the age of seventy-nine. He died peacefully surrounded by his loving family. During his life time, Amos Oz was considered one of the greatest—and at times, divisive—writers of Israel. Throughout his lifetime he had published forty books, ranging from short story collections and novellas, to novels, children’s books, as well as collections of essays and articles on a variety of subjects, which included literary criticism and political commentary. His novels are often paraded as the source of his recognition, and are the hook, line and sinker to draw and retain readers to his work. His novels and short stories were noted for their realistic characters, which were painted with all the follies of the human psyche and soul, but graced with an ironic touch to smooth out their shards and edges. His novels also allowed him the creative expressive measures to offer critical insight into the political and cultural situation of Israel and its constant battle to maintain its sovereignty, its security, and legitimacy in a contested and volatile region. His political views were often direct and concrete, but also pliable and flexible enough to be able to justify either perspective he wished to choose. Amos Oz is often credited as being one of the first prominent Israel intellectuals to have supported a two-state solution with Palestine. The conflict over the Gaza strip, Oz has famously stated is not a conflict fueled by differentiating cultures or religions, but rather a violent real estate argument, which neither party will win, until a long and painful compromise has been reached. Despite being a adamant advocate for a two-state solution, Oz was also known for supporting military action against the Palestine’s (when he saw it as necessary, as well as other defensive maneuvers against neighbouring nations). Despite the at times conflicted nature of his political perspective, Amos Oz was often considered a moderate writer of little to no political inflammation. Furthermore his literary work was world renowned, internationally recognized, and translated into a multitude of different languages—including Arabic. This often placed him as a strong contender for the Nobel Prize for Literature, first on the basis of his literary work: critically appraised and reader appeasement, not to mention his international acclaim was well-known for those who sought out to read new and interesting works—to be blunt: to call Amos Oz, ‘obscure,’ was insult and injury. With regards to his political stances, perspectives, articles and essays, he was considered moderate, understandable, and negotiable on the matters. He was not seen as a zealot but the vast majority; nor was he considered a bleeding-heart intellectual, but a shadowy and informed individual who could take either stance, with a sober and realistic outlook and disseminate the facts with ease and authority. From a public relations perspective he would be considered ‘perfect,’ for the Nobel Prize, he could appease political motivations with being inflammatory, while also stand firmly on his own literary output, as a true literary leaning intellectual. Despite this, Amos Oz never did receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. Even though he did not receive the literature prize, despite all the speculation, Amos Oz, will certainly survive the test of time for years to come, without the golden crutch. His work burns, snaps and crackles with the intensity, the rage, and uncertainty of the time. His characters and narrators are realistic, complete with human difficulties, trivialities, and follies, but are grounded and even humbly rounded off with a dosage of subtle humour and irony.

Amos Oz is and was one of the greatest contemporary Israeli authors of the time, and his time. His work is infused with his passions and his rage against injustices. Yet they are also literary, personal, and driven with narratives of his homeland, of his own history, and preoccupations with the questions of the importance of history, life, literature, conflict, religion. Some are the very same questions—if not universal questions—people ask themselves every day, in some fashion or another. It is unfortunate to end this way, so close to the New Year, but rest comfortably and contently.

Rest in Peace, Amos Oz.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take care 
And As Always 
Stay Well Read

M. Mary