Author David Grossman's Sexuality Becomes Focus Amid New Novel's Release

A recent Facebook post by Maya Sela, editor and host of the Kan Tarbut radio program 'Mah Sh'roch' (What's Involved), has ignited a debate within Israel's literary circles regarding the sexuality of acclaimed author David Grossman.

Sela's post, published shortly after the release of Grossman's 21st adult novel, "Words, Where Are You?", questioned why no one was discussing Grossman's "homosexuality" and the "life in hiding" it implied, suggesting it was a key to understanding his new work. The novel, which has quickly become a bestseller, reportedly selling around 400 copies daily in stores in addition to digital sales, had previously received three major reviews, none of which explicitly addressed a homosexual dimension.

Grossman, considered one of Israel's foremost living literary figures following the deaths of Amos Oz and A.B. Yehoshua, has not publicly commented on the matter. Even during a radio appearance to read from his new book, the topic was not raised. Sela stated that her intention was not to out Grossman, as she claims not to know anything about his personal life beyond what is publicly known, unlike cases where an individual's "closeted" status is widely suspected. She described her post as a "small provocation" aimed at opening a dialogue about the author's exploration of hidden lives in his work.

Literary critic Menachem Peri, Grossman's long-time editor, asserted that authors are not defined by their characters and cited A.B. Yehoshua's exploration of taboo subjects without personal connection. Professor Michael Gluzman, who has previously written about homoeroticism in Grossman's work, reportedly commented on Sela's post, confirming Grossman is heterosexual, though Grossman had previously complained about Gluzman's analyses. Sela noted that sales of Grossman's books have increased since her post, and that Grossman is reportedly unaware of it.

The discussion touches upon the age-old question of separating an author from their work, recalling the controversy surrounding Amos Oz's outing as an alleged abusive father. Grossman is reportedly battling Parkinson's disease, and his new novel includes a passage about the onset of "trembling sickness" stemming from a past traumatic event.