Israeli Novelist and Playwright

A.B. Yehoshua is one of Israel's most widely-read authors. He was born in Jerusalem and now lives in Haifa where he has taught and served as Dean of students at the University of Haifa. On his father's side, his family has lived in Jerusalem for five generations. His mother is from North Africa.

From the mid-1950s through the 1960s and 1970s, Yehoshua's writing was full of suspense and allegories. He is similar, in this respect, to Kafka and S.Y. Agnon. He wrote stories questioning the foundations of the Zionist state as well as "old man" type reminiscences.

"The Lover," his very well-received novel on the Yom Kippur War, completed his movement to realism. In this novel he balances the real and the grotesque in presenting Israeli society at its lowest point.

"A Late Divorce" continues his study of the pathological dimensions in families and in society at large. His plays include "A Night in May" and "Objects," both of which deal with many similar themes to those explored in his books.

An heir to Canaanite ideology, AB Yehoshua has advocated "Israelism" as a healthy substitute for Judaism in Israel. He lives in Haifa and continues to write, lecture, and be politically active. He is a Professor at the School of Theater at the University of Haifa

References relating to A.B. Yehoshua's treatment of Israel-Diaspora Relations at the AJC Centennial Congress in 2006 and developments [pdf download]. AB Yehoshua 2006