When Edith Hofmann sat down to write this book, she was a 19-year-old coming to terms with the fact of her own survival. It is a story which describes a struggle; the struggle to come to terms with a haunting past, the struggle to survive, and the struggle to unburden a broken heart. It also embodies a struggle to form, in language, that which at times all but defies linguistic form. When Hofmann started writing this book she had only been speaking English for two years, and yet she wanted to convey her experiences, in English, to those with whom she had made her home. The cruel reality was that no one really wanted to hear. She poured out her soul, only to be told that 'no one was interested in the war any more'. This was 1950. Some fifty years later she revisited the manuscript, wondering whether such a text would have any value. For fifty years her text had lain in her drawer, waiting to be read. Her story is a novel, but it certainly is not a fiction. Scared for her own safety, Hofmann chose to write in the third person rather than pen a memoir. Every page is bound up with the intricate details of her life, those whom she loved, and those whom she lost; the echoes of those terrible years, and the memory they imposed. In compiling this text, she decided neither to change it, by removing discrepancies or updating anything, which Hofmann wrote in the late 1940s, nor to improve her English, but rather to leave it as a raw and indelible testimony not only to her survival but to her bid to survive survival. You will be moved; not only by what she has written, but by the fact that she wrote at all.

“I am Sonya Vronsky, professor of mathematics at Tel Aviv University, and this is the story of a day in late August. On this remarkable day I kissed a student, pursued a lover, found my father, and left my brother.” So begins A Wall of Light , a novel which chronicles a single day in the life of Sonya, a thirty-two-year-old deaf woman about to break out of her predictable routine. Sonya lives in Tel Aviv with her protective half-brother, Kostya; their household has dwindled from five to two. Anna, their mother, is now in a nursing home and Noah, Kostya’s son, is living in Berlin. Kostya, wracked with guilt for the tragedies that have befallen Sonya, also grapples with the memory of his wife, Iris, a lawyer murdered in the course of a dangerous investigation seventeen years earlier. As we move through Sonya’s day, Noah and Anna narrate their stories as well. Noah’s journal entries cover the years 1980-1993, and Anna’s letters to Andrei, her married lover in Russia, are written in 1957, after Anna has emigrated to Israel to build a new life for herself and her son, Kostya. While Sonya’s story moves rapidly through the events of a single day, Noah and Anna’s voices take the reader back in time, filling in the circumstances that have led Sonya to this pivotal moment. We learn that Sonya has already endured two catastrophes. At age twelve, a medical mishap leaves her deaf, and at eighteen, while studying at university in Beersheba, Sonya is assaulted by two hoodlums. Throughout the novel, Sonya’s experiences, instigated by both human error and human evil, are echoed by the larger, political violence that haunts modern Israel. While Noah’s and Anna’s voices shed light on Sonya’s journey, they also provide insights into the political and cultural fabric of Israel from the mid 1950s to the present. Noah’s journal entries, starting with his tenth birthday and ending shortly after his army service, map his coming of age. We see him wrestling with his sexual identity and first sexual encounters, the fallout from his mother’s leftist politics, and his own conscription to the army. Anna’s secret letters to Andrei offer an outsider’s perspective on the new Israeli state. The remarkable events of Sonya’s day are set in motion when her brother gives her an antihistamine. Overcome with sleepiness, she dismisses her morning class early, asking only one student, Matar, to stay behind. She wants to understand what lies behind his unusual expression. He answers that he has been involved in war crimes, and surprises Sonya by kissing her. Sonya feels that she has been roused from a long slumber and as the novel progresses we see the ways in which her awakened desire shapes her choices. She decides to take a taxi home from the university and impulsively invites the taxi driver inside and seduces him. He complies, but when she tells him she’s deaf, he flees in confusion. Sonya is convinced that she has fallen in love with him, and decides to pursue him. She solicits her brother’s help and sets out to find her lover. Sonya’s search gains in intensity and purpose as she travels to East Jerusalem. There she encounters the walls that prevent Palestinians from moving freely through the West Bank. After an Alice in Wonderland -like journey past numerous obstacles, Sonya finally makes it to her lover’s house. This second encounter leads Sonya to a central revelation: the identity of her father. As this day of awakened desire and dispelled secrets closes, Sonya is able to step out from under the protective wing of her brother into a life that reflects both the ambiguity and uncertainty of contemporary Israel and her own personal possibilities.

La Negra y Blanca is the crowning achievement of Deena Metzger's lifetime as a novelist, poet, and playwright. On the surface, it is a meditation on memory as the narrator pieces together the bright flashes of images of her life recalled, piecing them together with the intention of creating a healing matrix that reflects a life lived in search of meaning. On a deeper level, it weaves in the history and tragedy of the Conquest's ongoing political and environmental effects on Latin America through the narrator s relationship with Victor Perera, a Guatemalan-American writer and journalist who documented the destruction of the native Lacandon tribe of Guatemala by imperialistic forces. We become acquainted with La Negra, a mysterious woman who is pregnant, but who will not give birth to her child until the world is safe enough for its continued existence, and who is the centerpiece character of a natural world struggling to survive and maintain its integrity in the midst of industrialization and the decimation of the sacred forests. Metzger has created a complex novel that weaves the personal, political, global and spiritual threads of her life into a tapestry of beauty, sorrow, transcendence, and ultimately, the assurance of a world renewed by the unwavering examination of all of its component parts to create a path into a future that promises reverence for all life.

David Albahari is one of the most prominent writers to emerge from the former Yugoslavia in the last twenty years. His serious, understated explorations of the self have influenced many writers of his native land's younger generation. The narrator of Bait has just exiled himself to Canada after the collapse of Yugoslavia and the death of his mother. As he listens to a series of audio tapes recorded by the mother years before, the narrator ponders her life and their relationship while simultaneously trying to come to terms with a new life of his own-one of exile and the confusion of a new language and culture. Bait is an exquisitely crafted novel that exhibits the wit and raw honesty Albahari's readers have long admired.

Book jacket/back: In this beloved novel of immigrant life in Brooklyn, David Fuchs speaks to us in a distinctive, affecting voice. He evokes the special, marvelous qualities of the Jewish-American experience by creating characters and conflicts whose idiom and flavor he catches with uncanny precision. This is an exceptional novel about ordinary people. Each of the central characters lives in the same tenemant building in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. This single building is a miniature of the teeming, dynamic community of which it is a part. It is inhabited by solitary souls and families. These people are students, idlers, shopkeepers, mothers, hustlers, lovers and husbands. Fuch's vivid, sharply observed prose folds these separate lives into a full-blooded human comedy. The story he tells reveals people living their lives with all the twists and dodges, the puzzles, the contradictions, the idiocies and the wonderful moments. In short, the busines of living, the banquet of life.

This award-winning novel is "a delightful, inventive tale" about the pursuit of love and literary fame from "a compassionate and witty satirist" ( Kirkus Reviews ). It's the opportunity of a lifetime for middle-aged Ezra Shultish--a chance to the meet his literary hero, Nobel Laureate Bar Nun, a writer Ezra has worshipped for most of his career as a teacher and translator. Hoping to get a recording of the author reading his story, The Yemenite Girl , Shultish travels to Israel, where he finds himself pursuing his own Yemenite girl, as well as the elusive author. But will Ezra get the girl--or his own glimpse of literary fame? Winner of the Edward Lewis Wallant Book Award, The Yemenite Girl is Curt Leviant's comic novel on the nature of celebrity and the relationship between life and art. "Shultish is a man with a life of his own. . . . And the celebrity, too, is remarkably drawn. . . . [The book] is done with great tact, feeling, and skill." --Saul Bellow, Pulitzer Prize- and Nobel Prize for Literature-winning author "A passionate story . . . The charm of the text and the intensity of the subtext is what keeps the pages turning." -- The New York Times Book Review "Good comic writing and satire on the Hebrew literary scene with its jealous politicking for literary prizes." -- The Washington Post

Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Stein returns from a year of madness to discover that everything she’s ever known is falling apart, leaving her to fight for happiness in a life filled with confusion and turbulence as she untangles the mysteries of the past in this “beautiful and significant book about love” ( The New York Times). Seventeen going on thirty, Elizabeth Stein has just survived three suicide attempts and a stint of treatment in numerous mental hospitals. Returning to the mother that everyone desires and a father sliding into alcoholism, as well as two lovers and all the freedom in the world, she is unsure how to move forward with scars on her wrist, scars on her soul, and all of life’s problems dancing in her head. In this rich and sensual novel, as timeless as Catcher in the Rye and as moving as Ordinary People , Elizabeth sets out on a journey of discovery, courage, hope, and fear. After a year when the loneliness and pain seemed to have no end, she is back in the world again. Now is the time when she must search for the meaning in the madness, all while fighting for happiness and facing the future for the first time on her own.

When Claire, the author of a novel about love among young CIA trainees, receives an e-mail from an Iranian admirer who wants to obtain a copy of her work, she agrees to meet him, but soon learns that someone is intercepting their communications.

"Chava Rosenfarb (1923-2011) was one of the most prominent Yiddish novelists of the second half of the twentieth century. Born in Poland in 1923, she survived the Lodz ghetto, Auschwitz, and Bergen-Belsen, immigrating to Canada in 1950 and settling in Montreal. There she wrote novels, poetry, short stories, plays, and essays, including The Tree of Life: A Trilogy of Life in the Lodz Ghetto, a seminal novel on the Holocaust. Confessions of a Yiddish Writer and Other Essays comprises thirteen personal and literary essays by Rosenfarb, ranging from autobiographical accounts of her childhood and experiences before and during the Holocaust to literary criticism that discusses the work of other Jewish writers. The collection also includes two travelogues, which recount a trip to Australia and another to Prague in 1993, the year it became the capital of the Czech Republic. While several of these essays appeared in the prestigious Yiddish literary journal Di goldene keyt, most were never translated. This book marks the first time that Rosenfarb's non-fiction writings have been presented together in English. A compilation of the memoir and diary excerpts that formed the basis of Rosenfarb's widely acclaimed fiction, Confessions of a Yiddish Writer and Other Essays deepens the reader's understanding of an incredible Yiddish woman and her experiences as a survivor in the post-Holocaust world. "--

Boris Akunin has been hailed as Russia's answer to both Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for his beloved Fandorin mystery series. After five years spent abroad building up a business as something of a private investigator, the handsome, stuttering Fandorin is back in Moscow--and in for a case that entangles him with the highest echelons of Romanov royalty. Grand Duke Georgii Alexandrovich arrives in Moscow with three of his children for the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II, who is fated to become the last Emperor of Russia. During an afternoon stroll in the park, Georgii's daughter Xenia is dragged away by bandits, only to be rescued by an elegant gentleman and his Japanese sidekick. The passing heroes introduce themselves as Erast Petrovich Fandorin and Masa, but panic ensues when the party realizes that four-year-old Mikhail has been snatched in the confusion. A ransom letter arrives from an international criminal demanding the handover of the Count Orlov, an enormous diamond on the royal scepter which is due to play a part in the coronation. Can the gentleman detective find Mikhail in time? The Coronation is a fantastically entertaining and deftly plotted take on the hostage novel, not to be missed.

"The Parliament of Animals represents a scholarly treatise on folkloric and literary narratives of animals. Each chapter on such creatures as elephants, monkeys, rats, snakes, dogs, wolves, cats, and birds includes informative introductions concerning the behavior and psychology of these animals and their relationship to their human counterparts. Useful select bibliographies on zoology, literature, folklore and language conclude these introductory comments which are followed by intriguing fables, legends, anecdotes and literary works concerning the animals under discussion. This book is thus a novel approach to the fascinating subject of the depiction of animals in prose writings over many centuries, giving scholarly information while at the same time providing a splendid collection of readable and enjoyable narratives from anonymous or known authors. The reader is easily engaged by this anthologized treatise on animal behavior, intelligence and psychology, and the obvious result is a better understanding and appreciation of both the animal and the human world. It is exactly this all-inclusive approach to animal narratives that makes this book by Boria Sax such worthwhile reading for naturalists, folklorists, cultural historians, literary scholars, and last but not least, the interested generalists."

Poetry. Drama. Fiction. This book contains rare unpublished and out of print poems, a play, and an unfinished 'novel', all written in collaboration in the early 1960's. HYMNS comprises the full run of poetry and prose the two poets wrote in collaboration between 1960 and 1964. Two-thirds of these have never before appeared in book form. Berkson's and O'Hara's "hymns," inspired by the crooked steeple of the Church of St. Bridget on New York's Lower East Side, address themes of love, protestation, travel and more. (The final two are songs in praise of the New York School master painters, Willem de Kooning and Philip Guston.) The other writings include further collaborative poems; a lengthy epistolary fiction involving two long-lost brothers, Angelicus and Fidelio Fobb; Marcia, an Unfinished Novel (with Patsy Southgate), a play written on a jetliner over the Atlantic, and dizzying notes on the New York City Ballet and the French 'cubist' poet Pierre Reverdy.

Poetry. Art. In the back of BILL, Bill Berkson writes: "The words and title for BILL popped out of a juvenile detective novel Tom Veitch gave me around 1980. Instantly, just flipping through this little illustrated book occasioned an emergency. The editorial imagination went to work. Soon, having typed a series of short sentences, paragraphs and stray phrases towards the bottom edge of unusually thin 8 1/2" by 11" sheets... I set aside the twenty-or-so pages and forgot about them." The story was then shelved in a manila folder for 25 years. Berkson revisited the story in 2006 and decided the blank pages needed artwork. With the help of Mac McGinnes, it was decided that artist Colter Jacobsen would be a perfect fit. Jacobsen found inspiration for the project in a collection of postcards dating from early the 1900s through the 1980s. With a slow and deliberate attentiveness he began a series of drawings: "I felt I was responding to another time, nearer to when I was born, a time thirty years before I was born, and recontextualizing these times into images for today." Within a year, the new BILL emerged, "a fresh creation, in its present splendor."

Scarce very good condition first edition hardcover of Bernard Kop's debut novel, with unclipped dust jacket in good condition for its age. Jacket is marked and discoloured throughout, and edges are creased and nicked. Page block head is sunned and lightly foxed, and a bump along the spine. Endpapers are tanned. Pages and text are othewise clear and unmarked throughout. LW

Sybil, a novel by Benjamin Disraeli, is a powerful representation of the social and political issues of 19th-century England. Through a narrative of love, class struggle, and national identity, Disraeli provides a compelling account of the challenges of the day. The story follows Sybil, a passionate young woman, as she navigates the complexities of English society and the struggles of the working class. Disraeli's writing is richly detailed and poignantly captures the social and political issues of the era, providing a unique insight into the past. With its vivid characters and thought-provoking themes, Sybil is an essential read for those interested in 19th-century England and its people. Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) was an English politician, statesman, and author who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice over his long and distinguished career. Disraeli is also remembered for his prolific literary career and renowned works of fiction, which often featured themes of ambition, power, and social climbing. Disraeli was born in London on December 21, 1804, to Isaac D'Israeli and Maria Basevi. He was educated at a variety of schools and universities, including Higham Hall and Trinity College, Oxford. In 1826, he left Oxford without a degree and embarked on a career in law. Despite his legal career, Disraeli was an avid reader and writer of fiction, and his first novel, Vivian Gray, was published in 1826. The book was well-received, and Disraeli continued to write political and social satire throughout his life. In 1837, Disraeli was elected to the House of Commons, where he aligned himself with the Conservative Party. In 1841, Disraeli's second novel, Coningsby, was published and was an instant success. This was followed by Sybil in 1845, and Tancred in 1847. His novels focused on social and political issues, such as the power of the aristocracy, the role of the Church, and the struggle between tradition and modernity. Throughout his political career, Disraeli continued to write and publish fiction, including Lothair in 1870, Endymion in 1880, and a collection of his works, The Works of Benjamin Disraeli, in 1883. His literary works have been praised for their insight into British society and class structure, and his novels remain popular to this day. Disraeli's legacy as both a politician and an author lives on in the United Kingdom, and his works continue to inspire readers and writers alike. His novels will remain a testament to his incredible talents and singular vision.

The Rise of Iskander is a novel written by Benjamin Disraeli, a British politician and novelist. The book is set in the fictional country of Vraibleusia, which is a thinly veiled representation of Greece. The story follows the rise of Iskander, a young and ambitious Greek man who seeks to restore his country to its former glory.Iskander is a charismatic and brilliant leader who quickly gains a following among the people of Vraibleusia. He is aided in his quest by a group of loyal followers, including the beautiful and cunning Princess Ida, who becomes his lover and confidante.As Iskander's power grows, he faces opposition from the ruling class, who fear his radical ideas and populist appeal. He also must navigate the treacherous waters of international politics, as other countries seek to exploit Vraibleusia's resources and influence.The novel is a political thriller that explores themes of power, ambition, and the struggle for freedom and independence. Disraeli was known for his interest in Eastern cultures and his sympathy for the struggles of oppressed peoples, and these themes are evident throughout the book.Overall, The Rise of Iskander is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of 19th-century politics and society. It is a must-read for anyone interested in history, politics, or literature.At length he was on the centre of the centre arch, an eminent position, which allowed him for a moment to keep them at bay, and gave him breathing time. Suddenly he made a desperate charge, clove the head of the leader of the band in two, and beat them back several yards; then swiftly returning to his former position, be summoned all his supernatural strength, and stamping on the mighty, but mouldering keystone, he forced it from its form, and broke the masonry of a thousand years. Amid a loud and awful shriek, horses and horsemen, and the dissolving fragments of the scene for a moment mingled as it were in airy chaos, and then plunged with a horrible plash into the fatal depths below.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Benjamin Cohen, a eleven-year old student from Chicago, received a Certificate of Recognition from Russian American Jews for Israel (RAJI) for the best literary work dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust in summer 2011. The book, «Will I Ever See Another Butterfly? » is about the children imprisoned in the concentration camp Terezin. Two years ago, Ben saw the play «And A Child Shall Lead» at the Chicago Vittum Theater . It was about the child prisoners of the «model» Nazi concentration camp Terezin in Czechoslovakia. He was so moved by this performance that he decided to write a novel based on this historical event. On June 23, 2012, Ben gave a presentation on his book at Northbrook Public Library, Northbrook, Il. More than 100 people attended this extraordinary event. Every child received a copy of the book. Ben dedicated his book to all the children who fell victim to Nazi persecution and never got a chance to live their lives.

New edition of B. H. Friedman's critically-acclaimed 1964 serio-comic novel. Yarborough is the story of well-to-do bridge prodigy Arthur Skelton and his futile search for some system to give his life meaning. The novel takes its title from the game of bridge. A "yarborough" is a "nothing hand," a hand that contains no card above a nine.

A novel based on the life of Hannah Arendt.

A compulsive, gripping and intense play from the author of Death and the Maiden. A censor discovers that the subversive novel he is about to ban is describing his own life and hinting that a terrible fate awaits his son. He must hunt down the author before it comes true... Ariel Dorfman's play Reader was first performed at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, in July 1995.