Shmuel Yosef Agnon

Shmuel Yosef Agnon (Hebrew: ????? ???? ?????; born Shmuel Yosef Czaczkes) (July 17, 1888 – February 17, 1970) was the first Hebrew writer to win the Nobel Prize in literature (1966). He won the prize jointly with author Nelly Sachs.

His special language

Agnon's Hebrew language is based on, among other sources, the books of Moses and the Prophets, Midrashic literature, the Mishnah, and rabbinic legends. Agnon's unique style is noticeable from the very first sentence. Examples:

Related Topics:
Prophets - Midrash - Mishnah - Rabbinic legends

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• bet kahava for modern bet kafe (coffee house)
• batei yadayim (lit. "hand-houses") for modern "kfafot" (gloves)
• yatzta for modern yatz'a ("she went out")

Bar-Ilan University went so far as to make a computerized concordance of his works in order to study his language.

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