MATTI FRIEDMAN is an award-winning journalist and author. Born in
Toronto and based in Jerusalem, he’s currently a contributor to
the New York Times Op-Ed
Section. Friedman’s last book, Spies of No Country:
Secret Lives at the Birth of Israel, won the
2019 Natan Prize and the Canadian Jewish Book Award for
history. Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier’s Story of a Forgotten War was
chosen in 2016 as a New York Times Notable Book and one of Amazon’s
10 best books of the year. His first book, The Aleppo Codex, won
the 2014 Sami Rohr Prize and the ALA’s Sophie Brody Medal.
“A fascinating and intense account of Leonard Cohen’s time in
Israel during the 19-day Yom Kippur War of 1973. A must for any
Leonard Cohen completist, with excerpts from his unpublished
manuscripts from that time. Soulful and thoughtfully done.”—Suzanne
Vega
“WHO BY FIRE is a stunning resurrection of a moment in
the life of Leonard Cohen and the history of Israel. It’s the story
of a young artist in crisis and a young country at war, and the
powerful resonance of the chord struck between them. A beautiful,
haunting book.” —Nicole Krauss
“A short, symphonic book of remarkable stories of yearning,
love, and war, whose leitmotif is a haunted artist bearing secret
chords that enchant the world.” —Rabbi David Wolpe
“Matti Friedman excels at finding the great significance in
forgotten things: forgotten manuscripts, forgotten wars, forgotten
spies. In this account of Leonard Cohen’s forgotten concert tour
during the Yom Kippur War, not only is a hidden side of Cohen
revealed but so too a hidden side of Israel. WHO BY FIRE is a
book about the change that happens when you come through the
flames.” —David Bezmozgis
"Friedman illuminates in this fascinating tale an
extraordinary chapter in the career of singer and songwriter
Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) that left a lasting impact on the state
of Israel. … This demonstration of the power of song will
stun fans of the legendary artist.” —Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
“Compelling …. Cohen fans will savor this little-known
footnote in the singer’s life.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Who By Fire takes us on an intimate journey[...]"—Jewish Boston
Ask a Question About this Product More... |