David Grossman

David Grossman is an Israeli author and journalist who has published several acclaimed novels and short story collections. Grossman was born in Jerusalem in 1954. His father was an engineer and his mother was a librarian. Grossman grew up in Jerusalem, where he attended primary and secondary school. After graduating from high school, Grossman served in the army as a paratrooper and tank officer, a time he later described as "the happiest years of my life."

Grossman studied philosophy and theatre at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His focus then shifted to journalism, and he became a reporter for Israel’s Army Radio and newspapers. He made his mark on Israeli society during his tenure as a columnist at the left-wing newspaper, Haaretz.

Grossman has published several novels, the most famous of which is his Pulitzer Prize finalist "To The End of the Land" (2008). The novel was extremely well received, with Janet Maslin of the New York Times calling it “soul searing.” It follows the story of an Israeli woman who goes on a hike to avoid an army call-up of her son. In receiving its recognition, Grossman also became one of the few authors to receive both the French Prix Femina and the Chevalier dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Grossman’s other prominent novels include "The Zigzag Kid" (2003), "Someone to Run With" (1999), and "See Under: Love" (1986). In addition to his novels, Grossman also has several volumes of short stories, including "The Lady and The Peddler" (2000) and "The Smile of the Lamb" (1986).

Grossman’s books cover a variety of topics, ranging from love, family values, and morality to Middle Eastern politics and Israel’s history. His writing has been compared to that of the hand of prophets in the Bible. According to Grossman “I’m trying to tell a story in which a person can regain control and responsibility for his or her own life, despite the presence of various oppressive forces in the environment.”

Grossman is not only an accomplished author, but also a human rights activist. He is a member of the Board of Directors of B'Tselem, an organization that works to stop human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories. He is also a frequent invitee to international events related to literature, culture and peace initiatives.

Grossman has won numerous awards in recognition of his work. He is the recipient of the Prime Minister award, the French Chevalier Du Merite, the prestigious Brenner Prize, the Bialik Prize, and the Emet Prize. In 2017 Grossman was awarded the Israel Prize for Literature for a lifetime of creative writing.

In addition to his writing and activism, Grossman is a professor at Ben-Gurion University in Israel. He continues to be one of the most prominent authors in the Middle East and has been described as “one of the greatest minds of our times.” His work has been described as “timeless” and has been widely acclaimed for its thought-provoking stories that draw the reader in.