Pinhas Sadeh

Pinhas Sadeh (1929-1994) was born in Lvov, Poland, and immigrated to pre-state Israel in 1934. He studied in Tel Aviv and the Jezreel Valley and then moved to Jerusalem where he worked as a night watchman and shepherd.
Sadeh began writing in 1951. He published six collections of poetry, two novels, a novella, four books of diaries and essays, a children`s book and a collection of hassidic folktales. He also translated collections of poetry and novels. Sadeh received the Bialik Prize in 1990. With no formal education beyond primary school, Sadeh consistently approached the most elementary existantial issues in his writing. Referring to his work as "theological," he remarked that his writing was "a moral act." Combining mythological, autobiographical, mystical and metaphysical elements, there were those who him as a teacher and prophet, His style is spare, and emphesizes his desire to avoid all linguistic excess. His novel, Life As a Parable, is possibly autobiographical. Widely acknowledged as his classic work, it spawned a cult following among young adults.

Books Published in Hebrew

Vision of Dumah (poetry), Machbarot Lesifrut, 1951 [Masa Duma]

Life as a Parable (novel), Sheshet, 1958; Schocken, 1968; 1984 [Ha-Hayim Ke-Mashal]

On Man`s Condition (novel), Am Oved, 1967 [Al Matzavo Shel Ha-Adam]

The Death of Avimelech (novella), Schocken, 1969 [Mot Avimelech Ve-Alyato Shamayma Bi-Zro`ot Imo]

Book of Poems (poetry), Schocken, 1970 [Sefer Ha-Shirim]

The Story of a Doe (novellas), Tarmil, 1970 [Sipur Al Odot Ayalah]

Journey (diary), Schocken, 1971 [Nesiah]

Journey in the Land of Israel (diary and essays), Schocken, 1974 [Nesiah Be-Eretz Israel]

To Two Honorable Young Ladies (poetry), Schocken, 1977 [Al Shtei Naarot Nechbadot]

The Diary of the Writing of Life as a Parable, Proza, 1980 [Odot Ha-Hayim Ke-Mashal]

Jewish Folktales, Schocken, 1983; 2005 [Sefer Ha- Dimyonot Shel Ha- Yehudim: Sipurei Am]

The Book of Yellow Pears (poetry, stories), Schocken, 1985 [Sefer Ha-Agasim Ha-Tzehubim]

Seven Lectures on Bialik (essays), Schocken/Dvir, 1985 [Shiv`a Hartzaot Al Bialik]

The Thief (children), Carta, 1988 [Ha-Ganav]

Poems 1985-1988, Schocken, 1988 [Shirim 1985-1988]

I Sing Like a Bird (poetry), Schocken, 1993 [Ich Zing Vi A Feigele]

Collected Poems, Schocken, 2005 [Kol Shirei Pinhas Sadeh]

Books in Translation

Life as a Parable
English: London, Blond, 1966; Jerusalem, Carta, 1989
Spanish: Granada, Granada University Press, 2004

Jewish Folktales
English: New York, Doubleday, 1989
London, Collins, 1990
German: Munich, Hanser, 1989
Frankfurt am Main, Buchergilde Gutenberg, 1992

Selected Poems
Catalan: Barcelona, Edicions 62/Empuries, 2002
Spanish: Granada, Granada University Press, forthcoming

Last updated: 27.01.2009