Those who love literature and cinema have certainly come across the name more than once Israeli writer Eshkol Nevo, who since yesterday has “conquered” greater popularity, or rather unpopularity, for having been the subject of a petition with numerous signatures of activists, intellectuals, local administrators and even an archbishop because is excluded from the program of the literary event “The possible book” scheduled for July between Polignano a mare and Vieste.
According to the promoters of the petition the author would not have expressed “a clear and public distancing from the policies of the Israeli government, from the devastation of Gaza and by the expansion of the conflict throughout the Middle East”. In particular, for Monsignor Franco Moscone, archbishop of the diocese of Manfredonia Vieste San Giovanni Rotondo, Nevo “did not have the courage to bring a contribution of criticism and clarity on the war in Gaza”. At the moment the festival, according to the director artist Rosella Santoro, confirms the presence of Nevo, expected in Vieste on 21 July: «No exclusions», he says. «For 25 years, the festival has brought culture to the streets and welcomed different voices, sensitivities and positions with a view to creating debate, beyond simplifications».
Yet Eshkol Nevo has repeatedly expressed his dissent towards the policies of Netanyahu’s government:« My position on the need for dialogue to build peace is very explicit and clear and is what I expressed on the stage of Republic of Ideand at the Turin Book Fair”, reiterates the author in response to the petition. «I don’t believe in any ban, the only path is dialogue. The only way to resolve the conflict is negotiations, negotiations. After these three horrible years we must say enough to the tragedies, we must yearn for peace. Many Israelis think like me.”
Life and works of Eshkol Nevo
Eshkol Nevo is one of the most read and translated contemporary Israeli writers internationally. Born in Jerusalem on February 28, 1971, he grew up between Israel and the United States and is the grandson of Levi Eshkol, prime minister of Israel from 1963 to 1969. After studying psychology at Tel Aviv University and copywriting at the Tirza Granot School, he worked for a few years in the advertising sector before dedicating himself entirely to writing. His literary debut dates back to 2001 with a collection of short stories, but success came in 2004 with the novel Nostalgia (Homesick), which received important international recognition, including the Book Publishers Association’s Golden Book Prize in Israel and the Raymond Vallier Prize in France. Since then all of his books have become bestsellers and have been translated into numerous languages.
Among his best-known works are The Symmetry of Desire (2007), Neuland (2011), Three floors (2015), The last interview (2018), The streets of Eden (2021) e Ties (2023). His novels explore themes such as friendship, love, family, desire, identity and the contradictions of contemporary Israeli society, often intertwining the private affairs of the characters with the great history of the country. In 2014 he founded one of the most important creative writing schools in Israel together with the poet Orit Gidali and continues to teach writing in various academic institutions.
Christian family he interviewed him several times, including on the occasion of his debut in children’s fiction, with illustrated books A kangaroo at the door (Salani)the story of a little girl who misses her father a lot, who is away for a few days for work. Her imagination leads her to create strange characters who visit her and make her feel less alone. when it came out in Italy. A story born from his experience as a father of three little girls:
«I was about to go to Australia for a book presentation tour. So I started telling this story to my eldest daughter to prepare us for this separation”, he told us. “She immediately fell in love with it and wanted to hear it told continuously even when I returned. There are many parents who are forced to be absent for work. So I turned this bedtime story into a book to help them and their children get through this difficult time. When I’m at home I tell stories to my daughters every evening.”
Nevo’s notoriety grew further in Italy thanks to the movie Three floors that director Nanni Moretti based the book of the same name, and which was presented at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021.
Today Nevo is considered one of the most authoritative voices in contemporary Israeli fiction, alongside writers such as Amos Oz, David Grossman and Etgar Keret.
