Yoel Hoffmann - Moods

The only consolation was His name (or, more accurately, His names). But when He uttered them, He heard (because of the absolute emptiness) not even an echo.

Copyright © 2010 by Yoel Hoffmann

Translation copyright © 2015 by Peter Cole

All rights reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in a newspaper, magazine, radio, television, or website review, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Publisher.

Moods is published by arrangement with the Keter Publishing House and the Harris/Elon Agency of Israel.

First published as a New Directions Paperbook (NDP1306) in 2015

Manufactured in the United States of America

Design by Erik Rieselbach.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hoffmann, Yoel.

[Matsve ruah. English]

Moods / Yoel Hoffmann; translated by Peter Cole.

Originally published as: Matsve ruah. Yerushalayim: Keter, c2010.

ISBN 978-0-8112-2382-9

ISBN 978-0-8112-2383-6 (e-book)

1. Psychological fiction. 2. Experimental fiction, Jewish.

I. Cole, Peter, 1957– translator. II. Title.

PJ5054.H6319M3713 2015

892.43'6—dc23 2015001270

New Directions Books are published for James Laughlin

by New Directions Publishing Corporation

80 Eighth Avenue, New York 10011