Jewish hero, literary giant: Elie Wiesel’s key literary works
July 3, 2016Elie Wiesel, the world’s most famous Holocaust survivor, was a Nobel peace laureate, outspoken activist and symbol of human rights.
He was also a prolific writer who published dozens of works, including novels, books of essays, plays and cantatas through his career, which spanned more than half a century.
The following is a sampling of some of his best-known volumes published in English.
“Night” (1960) — Wiesel’s internationally acclaimed memoir detailing the terror he survived as a 15-year-old boy living in concentration camps. Originally written in Yiddish and later published in French in 1958, the book was Wiesel’s first step into the public eye and is now a cornerstone of Holocaust literature.
“Dawn” (1961) — The sequel to “Night” about a young World War II survivor who settles in Palestine and joins a Jewish underground movement.
“Day” (1962) — Originally published under the title “The Accident,” Wiesel used this novel to reflect on the horrors he outlived and the deaths of his family and friends. “Night,” “Dawn,” and “Day,” were republished as a trilogy in 1985.
“A Beggar in Jerusalem” (1970) — A novel set in the days following the 1967 Six-Day War, in which a Holocaust survivor visits a newly reunified Jerusalem that has become fully incorporated into Israeli territory.
“Souls on Fire: Portraits and Legends of Hasidic Masters” (1972) — A collection of legends, parables and personal reflections about Hasidism, a branch of Orthodox Judaism.
“The Oath” (1973) — Wiesel’s novel centered on the sole Jew in a small Hungarian town to survive a pogrom by neighboring Christians.
“The Trial of God” (1979) — Wiesel’s play set in a 1649 Ukrainian village, detailing the aftermath of a pogrom.
“The Golem” (1983) — A compilation of legends associated with the mythical clay creature known as the Golem, retold by a gravedigger who claims to have witnessed miracles performed by the legendary being.
“The Forgotten” (1992) — In this novel Wiesel follows a psychotherapist and Holocaust survivor suffering from an incurable illness that’s destroying his memory. He confides his memories in his son before losing them completely.
“All Rivers Run to the Sea: Memoirs” (1995) — The first in Wiesel’s two-volume autobiography that includes childhood memories from his native Romania, his chilling experience in Nazi concentration camps and his eventual prominence as a Holocaust witness and human rights activist.
AFP contributed this report.
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...