The Smile of the Lamb A Novel

In a chorus of voices The Smile of the Lamb tells the story of Uri, an idealistic young Israeli soldier serving in an army unit in the small Palestinian village of Andal, in the occupied territories, and his relationship with Khilmi, a nearly blind old Palestinian storyteller. Gradually as the violent reality of the occupation that infects both the occupier and the occupied alike merges with the old man's stories, Uri, captivated by Khilmi's wisdom, tries to solve the riddles and deceits that make up his life. Originally published in Hebrew in 1983, The Smile of the Lamb is a novel of disillusionment and a piercing examination of injustice and dishonesty.

David Grossman is the author of two books of journalism, several children’s books, a play, and six novels, including Be My Knife and his latest essay collection, Death as a Way of Life: Ten Years After Oslo. He lives in Jerusalem.

“Together with See Under: Love, and his heartfelt The Yellow Wind, these three books form a trilogy by Israel’s finest young writer.” —The New York Times

“A brilliantly constructed, hair-raising exploration of the ‘morphology of lies’ in the inextricably linked personal and political worlds of Israel.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“Grossman is more than just another talented writer: Like Vaclav Havel, he is a moralist, a man with a conscience whose words cry out for absolute truth and fairness.” —Newsday (New York)

“[The Smile of the Lamb] is prophetic. A book which compels the heart and the imagination, as well as the mind.” —Los Angeles Times