Benjamin Tammuz

Benjamin Tammuz (1919-1989) was born in Russia and immigrated to pre-state Israel at age 5. He studied law and economics at Tel Aviv University and later studied art history at the Sorbonne. A novelist, journalist, critic, painter and sculptor, Tammuz served for many years as literary editor of the daily Haaretz. He also spent four years in London as Israel`s cultural attache, and was writer-in-residence at Oxford University from 1979 to 1984. Tammuz published novels and novellas, short stories,  plays, and books for children. He received several literary prizes, including the Talpir Prize (1970), the Ze'ev Prize (1971) and the Prime Minister's Prize (1978). His novel, Minotaur, was selected Book of the Year in England in 1981 - it was nominated by Grahame Greene. His work has been widely published abroad.