The anthology showcases Avigdor Hameiri's ten most compelling war stories and poems, blending the supernatural and macabre with themes of war, pogroms, and antisemitism. It captures the complex experiences of Jewish soldiers during one of history's most brutal conflicts, highlighting the intertwining of personal and collective trauma within the context of war.
Set against the backdrop of World War I, this documentary novel draws from Avigdor Hameiri's own experiences, blending autobiography with fiction. Recognized as the first bestseller in pre-state Israel, it offers a unique perspective within the genre, often dominated by male authors. The narrative is frequently likened to Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front. This new translation revitalizes Hameiri's significant work, making it accessible to contemporary readers and enriching the English literary canon of the era.
In this unique memoir, now in English for the first time, Israel's first Poet Laureate Avigdor Hameiri details a trip to Europe in 1930 from the perspective of a Hungarian Jew who had served in the Habsburg Army. Upon visiting Austria, Hungary, Romania and Czechoslovakia he sees Europe in flux on the brink of an unknown disaster.