Only Yesterday: A Novel

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

When Israeli Nobel Laureate S. Y. Agnon published the novel Only Yesterday in 1945, it quickly became recognized as a major work of world literature, not only for its vivid historical reconstruction of Israel's founding society. The book tells a seemingly simple tale about a man who immigrates to Palestine with the Second Aliya--the several hundred

Reviews

"[Only Yesterday] is considered [Agnon's] masterpiece and has a claim to being the Great Israeli Novel."Adam Kirsch, New Yorker
"Ancient religious longing, modern political aspirations, and personal dreams of liberation all intersect. . . . . [Agnon's] writing is so packed, so intensely allusive. This is one of the glories of [his] prose."Jonathan Rosen, New York Times Book Review
"A work of powerful, and eccentric, originality."Robert Alter, Los Angeles Times
"An epic novel . . . in a lively and accessible translation by Barbara Harshav. She uncannily captures the highly idiosyncratic voice and lilt, the full measure of provincialism and sophistication, of the master. For this miracle of a translation . . . we can only be grateful."Tova Reich, Washington Post
"Princeton University Press has made Agnon's most celebrated work available for ordinary readers with the first English translation of Agnon's . . . mega-novel."Susan Miron, Philadelphia Inquirer
"Barbara Harshav's translationthe first ever in Englishis thoroughly smooth and enjoyable. She succeeds in preserving Agnon's unique style, Voltaire-like witticism, and literary beauty."Alexander Zvielli, Jerusalem Post

Author Bio

S. Y. Agnon (18881970) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1966. Among his works that have been translated into English are A Simple Story, In the Heart of the Seas, and Shira.