Date of Birth: February 16, 1932
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Date of Death: January 4, 2018
Biography
Aharon Appelfeld was an Israeli novelist and Holocaust survivor whose works often focused on themes of memory, displacement, and the Holocaust. Born in Czernowitz, Bukovina (now in Ukraine), Appelfeld survived the horrors of World War II, including the loss of his mother and internment in a labor camp. After escaping the camp, he wandered for several years before eventually making his way to Israel in 1946. Appelfeld started his literary career relatively late, publishing his first book in 1962. He wrote in Hebrew and his works have been translated into numerous languages, garnering international acclaim. Some of his most notable works include “Badenheim 1939,” “The Iron Tracks,” and “Blooms of Darkness,” the latter of which won the prestigious Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. Throughout his life, Appelfeld was lauded for his unique narrative style, which often employed sparse, poetic language to convey deep emotional and psychological landscapes. His contributions to literature have earned him numerous awards, including the Israel Prize for Literature in 1983 and the National Jewish Book Award in 1989.
5 Interesting Facts about Aharon Appelfeld
1. Aharon Appelfeld was fluent in multiple languages including German, Hebrew, Yiddish, and Romanian.
2. He was separated from his father during World War II and was reunited with him after the war in Israel.
3. Appelfeld’s novel “Badenheim 1939” is considered one of the most important literary works about pre-Holocaust Europe.
4. He was a professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, where he taught Hebrew literature.
5. Appelfeld’s work often reflects his own experiences as a Holocaust survivor, although he rarely wrote directly about the Holocaust itself.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Aharon Appelfeld
1. “The Holocaust is a central event in my life, but I don’t write about it directly.”
2. “Memory is like a dog that lies down where it pleases.”
3. “The past is filled with pain, but it also filled with meaning.”
4. “Literature should be a journey into the unknown.”
5. “Writing allows me to give a voice to those who were silenced.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Aharon Appelfeld’s highest net worth is estimated to have been around $1 million.
Children
Aharon Appelfeld had three children. He was survived by his son Meir Appelfeld and two daughters, Batya and Avital.
Relevant Links
1. [Biography on Encyclopedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aharon-Appelfeld
3. [Overview on Jewish Virtual Library](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/aharon-appelfeld
4. [Profile on The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/04/aharon-appelfeld-obituary
5. [Works listed on Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12024.Aharon_Appelfeld
