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Yoram Kaniuk

ヨラム・カニウク

Yoram Kaniuk

Pen Names: Yosef Sharara（Pen name used for initial publication of 'Confessions of a Good Arab' (Arabi Tov)）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1930-05-02 （Tel Aviv, Mandatory Palestine）
Died
2013-06-08 （Tel Aviv, Israel） age 83
Nationality
Israeli
Languages
Hebrew, English
Religion
No religion
Residence History
Tel Aviv (birthplace, longtime residence) → New York / USA (lived in the 1950s)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Painter, Journalist, Theatre critic
Active Years
1963-2013
Influenced By
Anthony Burgess, Kurt Vonnegut

Education

Tichon Hadash (high school)
Period: 1940年代
Country: Mandatory Palestine
Attended high school in Tel Aviv. No verified information about university study.

Awards

Ze'ev Prize for Children's Literature
1980
Work: The House Where the Cockroaches Live to a Ripe Old Age
Organization: Unknown
Result: 受賞
Prix des Droits de l'homme de la République française
1997
Organization: French organization (details unknown)
Result: 受賞
President's Award for Literature
1998
Organization: Israel (President's Office)
Result: 受賞
Bialik Prize for literature
1999
Organization: Tel Aviv Municipality (Bialik Prize)
Result: 共同受賞
Prix Méditerranée Étranger
2000
Work: Commander of the Exodus
Organization: Prix Méditerranée (France)
Result: 受賞
Book Publishers Association's Gold Book Prize
2005
Organization: Unknown
Result: 受賞
Neuman Prize
2006
Organization: Unknown
Result: 受賞（詳細不明）
Kugel Prize (lifetime achievement)
2008
Organization: Holon Municipality (Kugel Prize)
Result: 受賞（生涯功労）
Sapir Prize for Literature
2011
Work: 1948
Organization: Sapir Prize organization
Result: 受賞
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Officer)
2011
Work: 1948
Organization: French Ministry of Culture
Result: 授与

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Last Jew

1982 Novel

A controversial novel addressing death and isolation in Israeli culture; parts were adapted into film.

deathisolationcritique of Israeli society
Adaptations
  • [Film] Portions adapted into the film 'The Vulture' (1981)
Translations
  • English translation (2006)

Adam Resurrected

1969 Novel

A novel about a Holocaust survivor; later adapted into a film.

Holocaustmemorytrauma
Adaptations
  • [Film] Adam Resurrected / Paul Schrader (2008)
Translations
  • English translation (1971)

Himmo, King of Jerusalem

1968 Novel

A war-time novel; has been adapted into film.

warlovemadness
Adaptations
  • [Film] Himmo, King of Jerusalem (film)

The House Where the Cockroaches Live to a Ripe Old Age

1979 Children's literature

Story of a girl, Naomi, who loves animals and the many creatures living in her house. English translation by Miranda Kaniuk.

love of animalschildhood imagination
Adaptations
  • [Documentary (about the author)] The House Where the Cockroaches Live to a Ripe Old Age (documentary) (1996)
Translations
  • English translation (2001, translated by Miranda Kaniuk)

Between Life and Death

2007 Autobiographical novel

An autobiographical novel reflecting on coma and semi-trance experiences; English translation published later.

memorylife and deathconsciousness
Translations
  • English translation (2016)

1948

2010 Fictionalized autobiography

A fictionalized autobiographical novel about the events of 1948 and the author's war experiences; won the Sapir Prize.

War of Independencememoryidentity

Bibliography

  • The Acrophile (1960)
  • Himmo, King of Jerusalem (1968)
  • Adam Resurrected (1969)
  • Rockinghorse (1977)
  • The House Where the Cockroaches Live to a Ripe Old Age (1979)
  • Confessions of a Good Arab (1984)
  • His Daughter (1987)
  • Wasserman (1988)
  • Tiger Hill (1995)
  • Commander of the Exodus (1999)
  • Life on Sandpaper (2003)
  • The Last Jew (1982)
  • Eagles and Scums (2006)
  • Between Life and Death (2007)
  • 1948 (2010)

Adaptations

  • Film adaptation of 'Adam Resurrected' (2008)
  • Film adaptation of 'Himmo, King of Jerusalem'
  • 'Wasserman' adapted into a German film (1995)
  • 'Eagles/Scums' adapted for TV/film (e.g. 2012)

Translations of Works

  • Many works translated into English, French, Italian, German and other languages

Style & Themes

Literary Style
existential styledark humorpolitical satireautobiographical elements
Recurring Motifs
deathwar experienceidentity and dualityanimals and childlike perspectives

Health

  • cancer
    2013（終末期）
    Died of cancer in 2013. His body was donated to science.
  • coma / semi-coma
    2000年代（作品『Between Life and Death』に関連）
    Coma experience influenced late works and memoir-like fiction.

Legacy

Regarded as a distinct voice in Israeli literature, Kaniuk's work on war, death and identity was translated internationally and adapted for screen and stage. He also provoked civic debate through actions such as his petition to change his religious status.

Museums

  • Kaniuk memorial plaque (former home) 13 Bilu Street, Tel Aviv

Academic Societies

  • Israeli Institute for Hebrew Literature (coverage/archives)

Archives

  • Materials at the Israeli Institute for Hebrew Literature

In Popular Culture

  • Film and TV adaptations of his works (e.g. Adam Resurrected, Himmo)
  • Coined Hebrew verb 'lehitkaniuk' referring to changing religious registry after his petition

Quotes

  • "Not to belong to a 'Jewish Iran' or to what is today called the religion of Israel."
    Source: The American Prospect (article by Gershom Gorenberg, 2011) (2011)

Trivia

  • He petitioned late in life to change his civil religious status to 'no religion', attracting public attention.
  • Died of cancer in 2013 and donated his body to science.
  • Reportedly befriended Charlie Parker in 1950s New York and had anecdotes related to Billie Holiday.
  • His books have been published in 25+ languages.