Ory Bernstein

Ory Bernstein was born in Tel Aviv in 1936, studied law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and served as an attorney in the IDF. After working in the private sector, he was CEO of one of Israel`s largest corporations for 23 years, and now practices law in Tel Aviv. Bernstein has been a guest lecturer in creative writing at Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Universities, co-editor of the literary journal Yochani together with Natan Zach, and is a professor of Hebrew literature at Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Bernstein has published 16 volumes of poetry, one novel, two collections of essays, a travel books and three books for children. He has also translated English, French and Italian poetry into Hebrew, including Rimbaud`s Une Saison en Enfer and a collection of Yeats` poetry. His own poetry has been translated into 15 languages. Bernstein received the Yehuda Amichai Poetry Prize for Lifetime Achievement (2008).

photo © Gabi Maharala

Books Published in Hebrew

Poetry

Same Room, Same Light, Yochany, 1962 [Be-Oto Ha-Heder, Be-Oto Ha-Or]

In a Short Season, Schocken, 1967 [Be-Ona Ketzara]

All are Lonely Deeds, Siman Kriah, 1974 [Culam Ma`asim Bodedim]

An Evening With Sue, Hakibbutz Hameuchad/Siman Kriah, 1976 [Erev Im Sue]

Middle Ground, Hakibbutz Hameuchad/Siman Kriah, 1979 [Emek Ha-Shaveh]

With Death, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1982 [Im Mavet]

Selected Poems 1962-1982, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1986 [Shirim Nivharim 1962-1982]

Remains, Am Oved, 1986 [Ma She-Nishar, Ma She-Lo]

A Private Matter, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1992 [Inian Prati]

A Time of Others, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1996 [Zman Shel Aherim]

A New Place, Keshev, 2000 [Meen Ha`aMakom Ha`Hadash]

A One and Only Love, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 2002 [Al Ahava Ahat VeYehida]

Poems (1962-2002), Hakibbutz Hameuchad/Bialik Institute, 2004

The Patriarch Abraham in New York, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 2006 [Avraham Avinu Be-New York]

The Romantic Book, Keshev, 2007 [Ha-Sefer Ha-Romanti]

A Passing World, Am Oved, 2007 [Olam Over]

Prose

A Dubious Life (novel), Keter, 2002 [Safek Haim]

Children and Youth

A Nice Boy (youth), Hakibbutz Hameuchad/Siman Kriah, 1981 [Yeled Tov]

Adventures in Green, Dvir, 1990 [Harpatkaot Yerukot]

Animals on the Way, Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1991 [Hayot Al Ha-Derech]

Essays

A Practice Among Friends (Essays on Poetry), Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1998 [Isuk Ben Haverim]

On the Poetic Persona (Essays on Poetry), Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 2008
[Al Ha-Persona]

Books in Translation

Selected Poems
Serbian: Belgrad, Meridijani, 2006
French:Paris, Caracteres, 2009

Individual poems have been published in: Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Yiddish.

Manuscripts available (for publishers only) in English translation (Y/A)
A Nice Boy
A Dubious Life
Selected Poems (English & French)

Last updated: 3.1.2010