Yehoshua novel wins Italian prize

A.B. Yehoshua’s new book, “The Supervisor of Human Resources’ Mission” is the winner of the Giovanni Bocaccio literary prize in Italy.

The Israeli author will be awarded the prize in a ceremony in September in Italy. The book has enjoyed great success in Italy, where it was published just one year ago. Film rights for the book have been bought by an Italian production company. And Yehoshua is slated to receive another literary honor at the upcoming annual literature festival in Manitoba, Canada.

“Israeli literature garners respect not just in Italy, but around the world, and Israeli authors win prizes in different countries all over,” Yehoshua says. “Today it is my turn in Italy, yesterday it was Amos Oz with the Goethe prize in Germany, and there are many other excellent authors.”

Yehoshua says Israeli literature is read because it comes from Israel, and the political angle is an interesting one.

Time of Latin dictators

“But it is also read because there are literary insights that give you pause to think,” he says. “The meat of Israel’s reality is juicy, concrete and often bloody, and this gives it a power that draws in readers.”

He says the country and its writers are at a point in time that reminds him of that of the dictatorships in South American literature.

“I don’t separate Israeli literature’s success from its ties to reality and from its national identity,” he says. “Israel draws a lot of attention and is more important than just the sum of its inhabitants or its strategic location.”

Jews have always drawn attention to themselves, and raised important questions about the historical conflicts facing them, he says.

“We as authors enjoy a rarified identity without a doubt. We cannot attribute our literary success and acknowledgments solely upon our literary uniqueness,” Yehoshua says.

Hands on filming

As opposed to previous cinematic incarnations of his book, in which the author was not involved, such as in the production of the “Return to India,” this time Yehoshua has decided to roll up his sleeves and actively participate in the making of the film planned in India.

“Because of my past experiences, I thought it would be best if I had more direct access and influence on the production of the film,” says Yehoshua, adding that he will write the screenplay.

“Then we’ll take it from there,” he says.

The prizewinning novel is not Yehoshua’s only current venture overseas.

In September, he has a book of three essays that were published separately in Israel coming out in France, and soon after in Germany. “Israel: A Moral Review” will be published by French publishing giant Kalmann-Levi and will include the stories, “The continuation of the Zionist Revolution,” “Between Right and Right,” and “An Attempt to Understand the Infrastructure of Anti-Semitism,” which has caused an uproar in Israel and around the world.

The essays were assembled in an anthology that was also released in Italy, but have yet to be released as a book in Israel.

“These are articles that have already been published in Israel, and so I thought there was really no reason to hurry up with its production here,” Yehoshua says.

These days Yehoshua is busy writing a new novel.

“I’ve finished with the hardest part already, and soon I will begin the editing process,” he says, unwilling to offer details.

“The Supervisor of Human Resources’ Mission” came out in September in France, Holland, Greece and Hungary, and will soon be published in Great Britain, the U.S. and Germany.