Ot me-Avshalom (Hebrew: אות מאבשלום Translation: A Letter from Avshalom or A Sign from Avshalom) is a novel by Israeli author Nava Macmel-Atir published by Yediot Books in 2009. The book quickly became a best-seller, and Macmel-Atir received the Golden Book award for selling 20,000 copies in just three months after its release.[1] Half a year after its publication, Ot me-Avshalom received the Platinum Book award from the Book Publishers Association of Israel for selling 40,000 copies.[2] In June 2015, it received the "Diamond Book" commemoration for selling 100,000 copies.[3]

Ot me-Avshalom
Ot me-Avshalom
Book cover of 'Ot me-Avshalom'
AuthorNava Macmel-Atir
Original titleאות מאבשלום
LanguageHebrew
SubjectAvshalom Feinberg &
The Nili spy ring
GenreNovel
Set inModern day Israel &
Late 19th century/Early 20th century Palestine
PublisherYediot Books
Publication date
2009
Publication placeIsrael
Pages530
AwardsGolden Book Commemoration
Platinum Book Commemoration
Diamond Book Commemoration
ISBN978-965-482-889-5
OCLC430497472
Websiteאות מאבשלום (Hebrew)

Plot

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Avshalom Feinberg and Sara Aharonson of the Nili spy ring, 1916

A young graphologist, Alma Bach, embarks on the trail of a man whose handwriting was sent to her for analysis. She discovers characteristics such as sharp wit, high degree of general knowledge, and courage. She discovers a passionate man with a highly developed imagination, linguistic style, and the sensitivity of an artist, a man with a magnetic personality who draws people to him while at the same time secluding himself and keeping a secret, and who is capable of loving at great magnitudes and willing to sacrifice for his love, for his love of the land, for his love of a woman, and eventually to pay the ultimate price. Alma is determined to meet this man face-to-face.[4]

The story moves back and forth between two time periods: modern-day Israel, where Alma undergoes her journey to discover the man, and a biographical depiction of Avshalom Feinberg, founder and leader of the Nili spy ring, which starts in late 19th-century Palestine and continues into the early 20th century.[4]

Awards

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  • Golden Book Commemoration – Book Publishers Association of Israel – September 2009[1]
  • Platinum Book Commemoration – Book Publishers Association of Israel – January 2010[2]
  • Diamond Book Commemoration – Book Publishers Association of Israel – June 2015[3]
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References

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  1. ^ a b Itayel, Yoav (19 September 2009). "אות זהב לאות מאבשלום" (in Hebrew). Magazin HaMoshavot. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b "רשימת הזוכים ב"ספר הפלטינה"" (in Hebrew). Book Publishers Association of Israel. January 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b Markovitch Slutzker, Gali (June 2015). "המבצעים חוזרים, גם הירידים: שבוע הספר העברי ה-54 נפתח היום" (in Hebrew). Maariv. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  4. ^ a b Macmel-Atir, Nava (2009). אות מאבשלום (in Hebrew). Israel: Yediot Books. ISBN 978-965-482-889-5. Retrieved 15 August 2015.