David Shahar

Born in Jerusalem, David Shahar (1926-1997) was a fifth-generation Jerusalemite. He studied at the Hebrew University. Shahar wrote five novels, an eight-volume historical saga set in Jerusalem, four collections of short stories and a children`s book. He served for many years as chairman of the Hebrew Writers` Association. Shahar divided his time between Jerusalem and Paris, and was greatly read and honored in France. He received many literary prizes, among which the Agnon Prize (1973), the Prime Minister`s Prize three times (1969, 1978, 1991), the French Prix Medicis Etranger (1981), and the Bialik Prize (1984). He was also appointed Commandant de l`Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French government.

photo © Smadar Cohen

Books Published in Hebrew

Concerning Dreams (stories), Am Oved, 1955 [Al Ha-Halomot]

Moon of Honey and Gold (novel), Hadar, 1959; Am Oved, 1988 [Yareah Ha-Dvash Ve Ha-Halav]

Caesar (stories), Dvir, 1960 [Keisar]

Ricky`s Secret (children), Hahistadrut Hatzionit, 1961; Hadar, 1974; Am Oved, 1988 [Sodo Shel Ricky]

The Fortune Teller (novel), Massada & Makor, 1966 [Magid Ha-Atidot]

The Death of the Little God (stories), Schocken, 1970; Am Oved, 1982 [Moto Shel Ha-Elohim Ha-Katan]

The Pope`s Moustache (stories), Shocken, 1971; Am Oved, 1982 [Sfamo Shel Ha-Afifior]

His Majesty`s Agent (novel), Hadar, 1979; Kana, 1982 [Sochen Hod Ma`alato]

To the Mount of Olives, (fragment), Bialik Institute, 1998

The Labyrinth: Essays on the 20th Century, (non-fiction), Edan, 2005 [El Har Ha-Zeytim]

The Palace of Shattered Vessels (historical saga, 8 novels), 1969-1994 [Heichal Ha-Kelim Ha-Shvurim]

Summer in the Street of the Prophets (novel series, Vol.1), Sifriat Poalim, 1969; Am Oved, 1985; Sifriat Hashaot, 1996; Hakibbutz Hameuchad/Siman Kriah, 2000 [Kayitz Be-Derech Ha-Nevi`im]

A Voyage to Ur of the Chaldees (novel series, Vol. 2), Sifriat Poalim, 1971; Am Oved, 1985; Sifriat Hashaot, 1996 [Ha-Masah Le-Ur Kasdim]

The Day of the Countess , (novel series, Vol.3), Sifriat Poalim, 1976; Am Oved, 1986, Sifriat Hashaot, 1996 [Yom Ha-Rozenet]

Nin-Gal , (novel series, Vol.4), Am Oved, 1983; Sifriat Hashaot, 1996 [Ningal]

Day of the Ghosts , (novel series, Vol.5), Am Oved, 1986; Sifriat Hashaot, 1996 [Yom Ha-Refaim]

A Tammuz Night`s Dream , (novel series, Vol.6), Am Oved, 1988; Sifriat Hashaot, 1996 [Halom Leyl Tammuz]

Nights of Lutetia (novel series, Vol. 7), Ma`ariv, 1991 [Leylot Lutezia]

On Candles and Winds, (novel series, Vol. 8), Sifriat Hashaot, 1994; 1996 [Al Ner Ve Al Ruah]

Books in Translation

Moon of Honey and Gold
French: Paris, Francois-Bourin, 1991; Paris, Seuil, 1992

Ricky`s Secret
French: Paris, Gallimard, 1986; 2003
Russian: Jerusalem, Aliya, 1990

Selected Stories
English: Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1974; 1976, 1979; London, Paul Elek, 1976; New York/London, Toby Press, forthcoming
Catalan: Barcelona, Proa, 1994; in paperback: Barcelona, Proa, 1994
French: Paris, Ed. Periple, 1984; Paris, Julliard, 1994; Paris, Gallimard/Folio, 2007
Paris, Julliard, 1994
Paris, Periple, 1984
Japanese: Tokyo, Kokusho-Kankoh-Kai, 1998

His Majesty`s Agent (novel)
English: Boston, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1983
French: Paris, Gallimard, 1983; Folio, 1987
German: Koenigstein, Athenaeum, 1984
Spanish: Barcelona, Galaxia Gutenberg, 2001

Brouria (novella)
French: Jerusalem, Ed. Sifriat Hashaot, 1992

The Palace of Shattered Vessels:

Summer in the Street of the Prophets
English: London, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1973
Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1975; New York/London, Toby Press, forthcoming
French: Paris, Gallimard, 1978; 1983
Russian: Jerusalem, Aliya, 1990; Jerusalem/Moscow, Gesharim/Mosti Kulturi, 2004
Estonian: Tallin, Loomingu Raamatukogu, 1994
German: Koenigstein, Athenaeum, 1984

A Voyage to Ur of the Chaldees
English: London, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1978
New York, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1988; New York/London, Toby Press, forthcoming
French: Paris, Gallimard, 1980; 1986
German: Koenigstein, Athenaeum, 1985
Russian: Jerusalem/Moscow, Gesharim/ Mosti Kulturi, 2003

The Day of the Countess
French: Paris, Gallimard, 1981; 1989
Estonian: Tartu, Kirjastus Hermes, 2008

Nin-Gal
French: Paris, Gallimard, 1985

The Day of the Ghosts
French: Paris, Gallimard, 1988

The Palace Stairs (A Tammuz Night`s Dream)
French: Paris, Payot, 1989; Paris, Seuil/Points, 1991
Russian: Tel Aviv, Kniga Sefer, 2006

Night of Lutetia
French: Paris, Francois-Bourin, 1992

On Candles and Winds
French: Paris, Robert Laffont, 1997

Last updated: 01.02.2009