A draft of a biography about Menachem Ussishkin, handwritten by Moshe Smilansky. Written in three notebooks, with erasures and corrections. [Rechovot, ca. 1943]. The composition was never published.
The draft reviews Ussishkin's biography, starting with his childhood in Belarus, through the days of immigration and settlement in Palestine, his activity for the Yishuv and struggles in the Zionist movement, ending with his death in 1941.
The draft, composed of three notebooks, was sent by Smilansky to the publisher Mordechai Neuman in 1950. Enclosed is the letter Smilansky had sent to Neuman with the draft, containing comments and instructions regarding the publishing of the biography (the letter is typewritten and hand-signed by Smilansky. Under his signature, Smilansky added several handwritten lines). The letter indicates that the biography before us was meant to be part of a more comprehensive literary enterprise for youth conceived by Smilansky, who intended to write a series of biographies about Zionist leaders. In the foot of the letter, Smilansky added a few handwritten lines with details about the biography: "My article about Ussishkin was written approx. two years after his death and was meant for youth abroad…". To the best of our knowledge, this biography was never published.
Three notebooks, without their covers: [138] pp (numbered 1-145; mispagination), 19.5 cm. Good condition. Some stains and minor blemishes. The last leaf of the first notebook is torn in its margins, affecting the text. Letter: 28 cm. fair condition. Fold lines. Stains. Torn margins.
Enclosed is the original envelope in which the draft was sent.