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Panther In The Basement

Panther In The Basement

‘One of the greatest prose writers in contemporary fiction’ The Times

In the last years of British rule in Jerusalem, a lonely, bookish Israeli boy befriends a British soldier in this tale of friendship in the face of enmity.

Jerusalem 1947.

British soldiers patrol the streets, and bullets and bombs are a nightly occurrence.

Caught up in the fervour and unrest against the occupying forces,12-year old Proffy dreams of being an underground fighter. But some of his dreams are less heroic.

Temptation lurks everywhere for the youth who wants to be a man – and betrayal not far behind.

Reviews

  • "Countries need writers as their voices of conscience; few have them. Israel has Oz"

    Washington Post

  • "One of the greatest prose writers in contemporary fiction"

    The Times

  • "Amos Oz is a great writer because he tells stories about real people in a way that no one else can"

    Alan Sillitoe

  • "He has that mixture of lyrical intensity, utter seriousness and capacity for describing life in a few words which characterises some of the best Russian authors"

    Melvyn Bragg

  • "There are times when you are reminded what it means to be in the presence of a genius...with Amos Oz you have to add wisdom and hope too"

    Scotsman

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About the Author

Amos Oz

Born in Jerusalem in 1939, Amos Oz is the internationally acclaimed author of many novels and essay collections, translated into over 30 languages, including recently his brilliant semi-autobiographical work, A Tale of Love and Darkness. He has received several international awards, including the Prix Femina, the Israel Prize, the Goethe Prize,the Frankfurt Peace Prize and the 2013 Franz Kafka Prize. He lives in Israel.

Amos Oz

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Features

Where To Start Reading Amos Oz's Books

Amos Oz was one of Israel’s greatest authors – a novelist, essayist, political activist, intellectual and soldier. From Judas, picked by Natalie Portman for her inaugural book circle which she started in the wake of his recent death, to My Michael, his breakthrough novel, we’ve picked five of Oz's books to introduce you to this great writer.

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