Persimmon Books

Persimmon Books (Hebrew: אפרסמון ספרים) is an independent Israeli publishing house based in Tel Aviv-Yafo. It was founded in 2018 by Yoav Reis, a publishing professional with many years of managerial and production experience at houses such as Sifriyat Ma'ariv, Kinneret Zmora-Bitan, Matar, and Am Oved, and Yori Miron, who holds a master's degree in linguistics and works as a translator and physician. The press publishes original Hebrew literature under the 'Kav Mit'ar' (Contour Line) series, translated literature from around the world, and poetry. The house focuses on translated prose from the late 19th to the mid-20th century, aiming to open a window onto that period and its social transformations, including the discourse of the turn of the 20th century. A notable curatorial thread is literature dealing with sexual choice and LGBT themes before they became mainstream social discourse. As Reis stated in an interview, a considerable portion of their books have some LGBT reference—whether through the author or the plot—but that is not the sole issue; he sees no difference today between same-sex and heterosexual relationships. The literature they publish was written during the years when the psychoanalytic field was taking shape, reflecting how individuals and societies positioned themselves. Among the books published are 'Lyrical Novella' by Annemarie Schwarzenbach, a lesbian love story set in early 1930s Germany; 'Confessions of a Mask' by Yukio Mishima, an autobiographical coming-of-age story about homosexuality in post-World War II Japan; and 'Black Masses. Lord Lilian' by Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen, a decadent coming-of-age novel that sharply criticizes society's treatment of homosexuality. The press also publishes contemporary Hebrew prose and poetry, with titles such as 'Midnight Cowboy' by James Leo Herlihy, 'Straw Hats' by Margarita Limbraki, 'Paltiel z"l' by Matan Hermoni, and 'Miss Ogilvy Finds Herself' by Radclyffe Hall. Persimmon Books operates as a private independent publisher, selling through its website and presumably through Israeli bookstores. It offers readers Hebrew translations of prose that sheds light on social upheavals and cultural shifts in the shadow of political and social crises, and in light of the psychological discourse of the 'end of the century' and subsequent years. The press carefully and boldly selects literary texts whose treatment of freedom of choice and individual liberty is more relevant than ever.

Persimmon Books was established in 2018 by Yoav Reis and Yori Miron. Reis had extensive experience in the Israeli publishing industry, having worked in managerial and production roles at Sifriyat Ma'ariv, Kinneret Zmora-Bitan, Matar, and Am Oved. Miron holds a master's degree in linguistics and is a translator and physician by profession. The press was founded with the aim of publishing translated prose from the late 19th to the mid-20th century, with a particular interest in literature that explores sexual choice and LGBT themes before they became mainstream social discourse. The house also publishes original Hebrew literature under the 'Kav Mit'ar' series and poetry. Notable publications include Annemarie Schwarzenbach's 'Lyrical Novella', Yukio Mishima's 'Confessions of a Mask', and Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen's 'Black Masses. Lord Lilian'. The press continues to operate as an independent publisher, offering Hebrew readers access to literary works that illuminate social and cultural transformations.

• 2018

  Persimmon Books is founded by Yoav Reis and Yori Miron.

Independent publisher of carefully selected translated and original literary fiction, with a focus on social and cultural transformations and LGBT themes.

• Lyrical Novella by Annemarie Schwarzenbach

• Confessions of a Mask by Yukio Mishima

• Black Masses. Lord Lilian by Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen

• Midnight Cowboy by James Leo Herlihy

• Straw Hats by Margarita Limbraki

• Paltiel z"l by Matan Hermoni

• Miss Ogilvy Finds Herself by Radclyffe Hall

1. 1Official website homepagepersimmon-books.com
2. 2About pagepersimmon-books.com
3. 3Wikidata entrywikidata.org
4. 4Hebrew Wikipedia articlehe.wikipedia.org