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Why is The Love of Zion considered the first Hebrew novel?
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Hebrew literature
S.Y. Agnon.
Ahavat Ziyyon (1853), also known as The Love of Zion, is considered the first Hebrew novel because it was a pioneering work of Romantic fiction that successfully adapted the Hebrew language to the form of an idyllic historical romance.12
Written by Abraham Mapu, the book is set in ancient Israel during the time of the prophet Isaiah. It is distinguished by its use of florid, biblical language, which Mapu employed to depict pastoral life and romanticize a sovereign Israel. By utilizing phrases culled from the Bible and adapting them to his narrative needs, Mapu created a work that attained immediate popularity and helped pave the way for the revival of Jewish nationalism and the Zionist movement.12