Judas (novel) explained

Judas
Author:Amos Oz
Country:Israel
Language:Hebrew
Set In:1959–1960 Jerusalem
Pub Date:2014

Judas is the final novel by Israeli author Amos Oz, first published in 2014. The novel's story is set in 1959–1960 Jerusalem and follows the student Shmuel Asch.

Plot

Amos Oz's novel Judas unfolds in 1959–1960 Jerusalem, following Shmuel Ash, a student who becomes entangled in the lives of an elderly man, Gershom Wald, and his housemate, Atalia Abravanel. As the narrative progresses, Oz explores characters and ideas against the backdrop of Israel's history. The plot gradually reveals the dark connection between the characters, shedding light on Shealtiel Abravanel's (Atalia Abravanel's father) views on coexistence. The novel intertwines Shmuel's abandoned thesis on Jesus and Judas, offering a nuanced exploration of betrayal and political complexities.

Awards

Oz was the winner of Germany's International Literature Award for Judas.