Avigdor Hameiri (1890-1970) was born in Carpatho, Ukraine (then Hungary). He published his first poem in Hebrew in 1907 and his first book of poetry five years later. In 1916, he was captured by the Russians while serving as an Austrian officer on the Russian front.



He was imprisoned in Siberia and released in 1917 after the October Revolution. Hameiri immigrated to Palestine in 1921, joined the staff of the daily Haaretz, and was editor several literary and cultural journals.



In 1932, he founded the first social satirical theater in Hebrew in Tel Aviv. Hameiri wrote well over 30 books, including poetry, novels, short stories, non-fiction and children`s books. He was awarded the Israel Prize.



His work has been published in 12 languages.




Books Published in Hebrew

• Poems by Avigdor Feuerstein, Budapest, The Zionist Agency, 1912 [Mi-Shirei Avigdor Feuerstein]


• The Plan for the Feast (poetry), Moria, 1923 [Tochnit Ha-Neshef]


• Under Red Skies (stories), Haktav, 1925 [Tahat Shamayim Adumim]


• Mother`s Milk (poetry), Haktav, 1925 [Halav Em]


• Jacob`s Bow (stories), Haktav, 1926 [Keshet Yaakov]


• In the Name of Rabbi Jesus from Nazareth,Lema`an Hasefer, 1928 [Be-Shem Rabbi Yeshu Mi-Natzeret]


• Avigdor Hameiri`s Writings, Haktav, 1926-29 [Kitvei Avigdor Hameiri]


• Tree of the Field (story), Ha`aretz, 1927 [Etz Ha-Sadeh]


• The Great Madness (novel), Mitzpeh, 1929 [Ha-Shigaon Ha-Gadol]


• Between Two Men, Hashahar, 1930 [Ben Shnei Ha-Adam]


• Lower Hell, Mitzpeh, 1932 [Ba-Gehenom Shel Mata]


• The Wisdom of Animals (children), Ha`aretz, 1933 [Hochmat Ha-Behemot]


• The Book of Poems, Am Hasefer, 1933 [Sefer Ha-Shirim]


• Bounty (novel), Mitzpeh, 1934 [Tenuvah]


• About the Blood (non-fiction), Lev Hadash, 1936 [Al Ha-Dam]


• Towards a Jewish State or Judean Exile? (non-fiction), Hamahar, 1938 [Likrat Medinah Ivrit O Galut Yehudah?]


• Are We Ready for the Kingdom? (non-fiction), Hamahar, 1938 [Ha-Muchsharim]


• Travelling in Wild Europe, Va`ad Hayovel, 1938 [Masa B`Eiropa Ha-Prait]


• The Primal Hebrew (non-fiction), Iavne, 1942 [Ha-Ivri Ha-Kadmon]


• Between the Nights (stories), Yavne, 1944 [Ben Laila Le-Laila]


• The Singing Pyre (poetry), Bialik Institute, 1944 [Ha-Moked Ha-Ran]


• Schoolboy Dreams (poetry), Sifriat Poalim, 1945 [Halomot Mi-Beit Raban]


• A World Without a Guardian, Am Oved, 1946 [Ha-Olam Lelo Shomer]


• The White Messiah (novel), I. Sherberk, 1947 [Ha-Meshiah Ha-Lavan]


• Pinocchio in the Land of Israel (children), Mitzpeh, 1950 [Pinocchio Be-Eretz Israel]


• Revolution in the Jungle (children), Twersky, 1951 [Ha-Mahapecha Be-Ya`ar Ad]


• Collected Stories, Idit, 1954 [Mivhar Sipurim]


• Socrates` Secret (novel), Idit, 1955 [Sodo Shel Socrates]


• Children and Holydays in Israel (children), Sinai, 1957 [Yeladim Ve-Hagim Be-Israel]


• Come to Eat (children), Sinai, 1957 [Bou Le`echol]


• Blessed Be the Match (play), Niv, 1958 [Ashrei Ha-Gafrur]


• In a Pavement of Sapphire (poetry), Bialik Institute, 1962 [Be-Livnat Ha-Sapir]


• Yoseli Tagalshi (poetry), Massada, 1967 [Yoseli Tagalshi]


• War Stories, Am Oved, 1971 [Sipurei Milhamah]


• Selected Poems, Iachdav, 1976 [Yalkut Shirim]


• The Gifted Body (stories), Ministry of Defense, 1980 [Ha-Guf Ha-Geoni]

Books in Translation

• The Great Madness


• English: Haifa, Or-Am, 1984

Individual poems have been published in: English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Yiddish.