The Middle Kingdom

"This is not a children's book, nor a book about apes. And don't let the rhymes fool you, the pistol fires in the last act."An epic allegorical verse novel chronicling the tale of the Red Banana Monkey Kingdom—a fable whose playful surface conceals a provocative allegory of conspiracy and shadowed histories tied to the assassination of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.CRITICAL ACCLAIM:"A wild work like no other. Your grandchildren will study it in literature classes" — Assaf Shany, Screenwriter"The birth of a new genre in contemporary literature. I found this book to be no less than a work of genius... avant-garde, dadaistic, and groundbreaking." — Doron Braunshtein, Author"Aviv Geva has freed himself of the fetters of literary writing. He has taken the sensation from the words and written at an emotional level. One of the great literary creations I have ever encountered." — Pashi Levin, Author"I felt as if I had entered the pages of Shakespeare's play, or perhaps The Bible." — Nurita ReviewsPROLOGUE"First and foremost, let us beginBy stating that the red banana kingdom was ruled by King Brin.Wild bananas grew in orange, green and yellow,In brown and even ocean blue, deep and mellow.But Brin’s kingdom was renowned in the jungle far and wideFor the red bananas that grew in the north and along the eastern side.And so I will commence, but please keep in mindThat the red banana grove was the most important of its kind.There it was, so close to the eastward entry.Oh yes! The Holy Grove! Well-guarded by King Brin’s loyal primate sentry.By the monkeys of the jungle he was exceedingly admired.To populate his kingdom all types and sorts of primates aspired.Held in great esteem by monkeys a great distance from his realm,They would occasionally visit the blessed land that held him at the helm.Forms have to be completed before entry is granted,For a brief glorious hour, to view the wonder and be enchanted.A remarkable wonder, a masterpiece, a sign no doubt,The very spot where the first red banana in the jungle began to sprout!Much has been said, and will be said, of the singular nature of this dominion.The stamping ground makes fine peat, the green shoots flourish, branching out,Perfectly intertwined, the very best for climbing, in everyone’s opinion.Yet distant is the day when throughout the kingdom a black cloud shall spread,Transforming waterholes filled to the brim into mired bogs, muddy and dead.Abundant superlatives praise the monkeys’ equanimity,With a salute they acknowledge their persona’s sublimity.Rest assured! Far and wide this fact is known and well construed.Rare is the day when pique and fury will blacken their mood.There was no indication of what lay in store,Of what that week would transpire, changing eternity as never before." Read more