This stunning anthology gathers together the riches of poetry in Hebrew from 'The Song of Deborah' to contemporary Israeli writings. Verse written up to the tenth century show the development of piyut, or liturgical poetry, and retell episodes from the Bible and exalt the glory of God. Medieval works introduce secular ideas in love poems, wine songs and rhymed narratives, as well as devotional verse for specific religious rituals. Themes such as the longing for the homeland run through the ages, especially in verse written after the rise of the Zionist movement, while poems of the last century marry Biblical references with the horrors of the Holocaust. Together these works create a moving portrait of a rich and varied culture through the last 3,000 years.

About the Author

T. Carmi (1925-1994) was born in New York City, and settled in Israel in 1947. He published eight volumes of poetry in Hebrew, and two collections have appeared in English translation: The Brass Serpent (1964) and Somebody Like You (1971). He also translated several well-known plays into Hebrew.


T. Carmi (1925-1994) was born in New York City, and settled in Israel in 1947. He published eight volumes of poetry in Hebrew, and two collections have appeared in English translation: The Brass Serpent (1964) and Somebody Like You (1971). He also translated several well-known plays into Hebrew.

Book Information
ISBN 9780140424676
Author T. Carmi
Format Paperback
Page Count 608
Imprint Penguin Classics
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 415g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 26mm