Uri Nissan Gnessin
Uri Nissan Gnessin (1879–1913) was a Russian Jewish writer, generally considered a pioneer in modern Hebrew literature. He is a brother of Menahem Gnessin, a co-founder of the Habima Theatre.[1]
Early life
He was born in Starodub, and grew up in the small town of Prochep, Orel province.[2] His father was a rabbi and the head of a yeshiva in Pochep.[2] After attending cheder, Gnessin studied at his father's yeshiva, and there became friends with Yosef Haim Brenner, a fellow student.[2] As a boy he wrote poetry and was interested secular subjects; when he was 15 years old, he and Brenner together produced a literary journal that they distribured to a small circle of friends.[2]
Literary career and later years
Around 1899, when Gnessin was 18 years old, he was invited by Nahum Sokolow to join the editorial board of the Hebrew-language newspaper Ha-Tsefirah, in Warsaw, where he began to publish his poems and stories, as well as literary criticism and translations.[2] His first book, Zilelei ha-Hayyim (The Shadows of Life), a collection of stories and sketches, was published in 1904.[2]
In 1906 he co-founded the Hebrew-language publishing house "Nisyonot" (Attempts), and after moving to London in 1907, he co-edited (with Brenner) Ha'Meorer, a Hebrew periodical.
In the fall of 1907 he immigrated to Palestine; however, his experience there disappointed him, and in 1908 he returned to Russia.[2] In 1913 he died in Warsaw of a heart attack. [3]
Gnessin wrote in a unique style of prose that was notable for its expressionistic language form. Many Israeli literary scholars, such as Dan Miron and Gershon Shaked have written of his work, especially about the short story "BaGanim" (At the Gardens).
Published works
- Collected Works (two volumes), Tel-Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad and Zemorah-Bitan, 1982 [Hebrew]
- Beside & Other Stories, with an introduction by Rachel Albeck-Gidron, New Milford: Toby Press, c2005.
References
- ↑ Gershony, Gershon K. (2007). "Gnessin, Menahem." Encyclopaedia Judaica. 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA. Vol. 7, p. 648. Retrieved 2017-05-23, via Gale Virtual Reference Library. Also available online via Encyclopedia.com.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Goldberg, Lea (2007). "Gnessin, Uri Nissan." Encyclopaedia Judaica. 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA. Vol. 7, p. 648-650. Retrieved 2017-05-23, via Gale Virtual Reference Library. Also available online via Encyclopedia.com.
- ↑ "Uri Nissan Gnessin". Institute for the Translation of Hebrew Literature (ITHL). ithl.org.il. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
External links
- Complete collection of his works, both poetry and prose (Project Ben Yehuda) (in Hebrew)
- Works by Uri Nissan Gnessin at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
