Panther in the Basement - Amos Oz

"Countries need writers as their voices of conscience; few have them. Israel has Oz." - Washington Post

The
year is 1947: the last days of the British mandate in Palestine.
Twelve-year-old Proffy, indoctrinated by his patriotic father and a
zealous Bible teacher, dreams of dying heroically in battle, fighting
for the creation of a Jewish state. Then he meets and befriends a kindly
British soldier who shares with Proffy a love of language and the
Bible. Accused of treason for the friendship, Proffy must learn the true
nature of loyalty and betrayal. Panther in the Basement is a rich
tapestry of character and political intrigue set against the birth of
modern Israel.

"Insightful, inventive, and lyrical." - New York Times Book Review