Offthebookshelf.com
Edmund Jonah
The second son of third generation Iraqi Jews in India, the author was born in Calcutta and educated in the Queen of the Himalayas, Darjeeling, by Belgian and Canadian Jesuits, from whom he got his interest in Jesus. At the age of 22, he went to England where he lived for ten years. Shortly after he married, he, his wife and baby daughter, immigrated to Israel where they have lived for over four decades. He produced two sons in Israel who have made their home in the U.K. and who appear to be perennial bachelors. His daughter married an Iraqi Jew and has given him three beautiful granddaughters.
He has taken two courses in creative writing, one in London and one in Israel.
The Canadian magazine, Horizon, bought nine short stories and four articles of his.
The New Zealand magazine Matrix, published 2 stories and 3 poems.
The Writer's Cafe published another short story in an Anthology.
The Jimston Journal, U.K. brought out another short story in their on-line magazine.
Sunpenny Publishing, U.K. judged his stories, "The Savile Row Suit" and “The Other Twin” as HIGHLY COMMENDED in the "open" category competition, 2008 and 2009 and has published both in an Anthology.
He has a completed film script, ‘Vaihiva” based on the novel “The Dark River” by Charles Nordoff and James Norman Hall. It had the eye of the late, great Samson Raphaelson who was impressed enough to offer advice on how to improve it. He is now working on the film script of his book,
He was a founding member of English Theatre in Israel, directing several plays, two of which won awards in International festivals in Dundalk, Eire.
He also helped start the Shakespeare Reading Circle in Tel Aviv. On invitation, he lectures on Shakespeare's Shylock. His lecture was published as an article in the Jewish Magazine. He now lectures on Jesus, the subject of his book.
All Books By This Author:
- YESHUA!
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"YESHUA!" is a novel of blood, sex and tears, set 2000 years ago, in a time when Rome was the occupying power and the moment in history that became a watershed for the Jewish nation.
"The author writes from his Jewish position but is sympathetic to the Gospel narrative. As Jesus is put in the frame of his people and his time, the novel makes the Gospels comprehensible to modern readers.”
(Late) Professor David Flusser, New Testament Authority - Israel
“A lively, engaging, imaginative novel that sets out a gripping life of Jesus in modern accessible English. The turbulence of the times, the characters, and village life of 2000 years ago are fascinating and fully convincing.”
UKAuthors Judge’s Report on placing first in the historical category - U.K.
“Edmund Jonah gives us an authentic feel of village life 2000 years ago. The story is gripping, with action, heartbreak, setbacks, conflict and resolution to keep the reader interested – and wondering if indeed, this is what did happen to Jesus. A noble job.”
Writer's Digest Report
“I read the second half at one sitting! Good job. Sacred fiction is difficult to write because so often the substance is embedded in myth. Your fictional account is certainly as good as any and perhaps better than most. One thing your book makes very clear, Jews should write the history of Jesus."
Gilbert Kern, Unitarian Pastor - USA.
“I couldn’t put it down. It let me see Jesus as a living, breathing, involved Jew, trying to come to terms with himself and his religious beliefs. All the characters came alive. You took me back to the biblical world and to the turbulence of the period. Pervading it all is ‘love of the land,’ which comes through with every word you write.”
Zipporah Porath, Author - Israel
“Recreating the life of Jesus is a Herculean task and Edmund Jonah has undertaken it admirably. In ‘YESHUA!’ one sees a very human Jesus, a picture we fail to see in the gospels. The political, psychological, social, economic, and religious currents come very much alive. This book is an invaluable document in the quest for the historical Jesus. One may not agree with the picture of Jesus that Edmund Jonah draws here but by presenting his views, the author is challenging the modern world to think creatively about Jesus and about ourselves.”
The Book Attic Reviews
“I read an excerpt from ‘YESHUA!’ on the net and was transported in time to Biblical Jerusalem. Your knowledge and descriptions of the religious/historical background in ‘YESHUA!’ is absolutely remarkable. I was mesmerized by your writing and read the excerpt twice. I enjoyed and appreciated your work. Congratulations! Well Done!”
Jim Curran – Author/Playwright - U.K.
“This is beautiful writing. The syntax of your prose is so alluring, almost poetic, that it leads the eye and the senses forward all the time. You can't bear to stop reading because of the inner pleasure the words. You want to go on reading because you need to know what will happen next. It is a gift born story-tellers have.”
Sheila Belshaw – Author - S. Africa
“Edmund Jonah has created a masterpiece. ‘YESHUA!’ begins with a young Jesus who grows into the dynamic force that created Christendom and changed the world irrevocably. Jonah, an Israeli, knows his topic in breathtaking detail, blending his own spellbinding writing with scripture into a thoroughly believable narrative. Effectively woven into the story is the on-going political and violent tension between the Jews and the Romans, in the midst of which this man comes to vibrant, thrilling life. ‘YESHUA!’ is historical fiction at its best.”
Andrew O'Hara, Jimston Journal - U.K.- Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Suspense
