The Slopes of Lebanon

by Amos Oz, Maurie Goldberg-Bartura (Translator)

Overview

As well as being one of Israel’s preeminent writers of fiction, Amos Oz was one of the first voices of conscience in Israel to advocate the creation of a Palestinian state and has been a leading figure of the Peace Now movement since 1977. This superb collection of essays offers Oz’s cogent views on Israel’s offensive into Lebanon in 1982; fanaticism of all stripes; the PLO; Israeli terrorism; the new militarism and the growing intolerance toward the Arab population in Israel; Jewish attitudes toward the Holocaust, and its misappropriation by the right and left alike; Claude Lanzmann’s film Shoah; the dream of Zionism and its failures; and much more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547636948
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	10/16/2012
Sold by:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	555 KB

About the Author

AMOS OZ was born in Jerusalem in 1939. He is the author of fourteen novels and collections of short fiction as well as numerous works of nonfiction. His acclaimed memoir A Tale of Love and Darkness was an international bestseller and recipient of the prestigious Goethe Prize, as well as the National Jewish Book Award. Scenes from Village Life, a New York Times Notable Book, was awarded the Prix Méditerranée Étranger in 2010. He lives in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Editorial Reviews

Although Israeli writer Oz calls it ``a deadly enemy,'' he nevertheless urges Israelis to talk peace with the PLO and work toward the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside Israel. Written between 1982 and 1988, these articulate, impassioned articles and speeches include pieces on ``that righteous gentleman'' Kurt Waldheim; the Austrian origins of tens of thousands of Nazis; Claude Lanzmann's Holocaust film Shoah ; the 1984 hijacking of a bus by Arab terrorists; the weakening of the Labor party; the search for peace. Oz, a leader of the Peace Now movement, condemns Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon as a perverted use of power. He fears Israel is on the verge of becoming a stagnant society, one conditioned by fear, that lives in the past. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The events of the Lebanese incursion and their aftermath have left Israeli novelist Oz disillusioned and embittered. Many of the scathing, sardonic commentaries collected in this book previously were published in the Israeli newspaper Davar during 1982. Oz addresses sociological problems and injustices both real and perceived; provides an extensive review of the film Shoah ; and harshly condemns the government's treatment of Palestinians. Disturbing is Oz's inclusion of unsubstantiated charges that were later shown to be fabrications. Missing is the pained, sympathetic tone of an involved participant that made his In the Land of Israel ( LJ 11/15/83) so powerful. His feeling of disenchantment with his country is profound; in one essay, on the event of receiving a literary prize, Oz comments that literature is expected to provide some comfort and consolation, but that he can offer neither. Nor does he offer insight, only a melancholy whimper.-- Carol R. Glatt, Northeastern Hosp. of Philadelphia

Library Journal