October, A War Diary

"October, A War Diary" describes fourteen days of the 1973 Egyptian-Israeli war through the eyes of a 19 year old soldier. The author weaves simple words and powerful imagery to transport the reader into the horrific reality of his experiences.

It doesn’t fit neatly into a specific genre. Everything about it is concise and condensed. It focuses very precisely on the author’s own experiences, disregarding the political and military background. When the war breaks, the author is taken south, and is gradually exposed to the full reality of war. From the initial uneasiness, to the first sights of wounded and dying and then finally to the relentless assault on his body and mind which culminates in disaster.

I came across this book randomly, on Twitter. I got a copy from a library and read it within an hour or so. The words gave me no rest and I almost immediately decided to translate it.

The author, Yoram Kupermintz, was a soldier drafted shortly before the 1973 war to the Israeli army. After his discharge he studied art in Israel and the UK and then became a photographer, painter and writer.

You can download and read some of it here.