Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of A Horse Walks into a Bar
Literary Fiction· Israel

A Horse Walks into a Bar

by David Grossman
Aggregate Editorial Score91/100
★Booker Prize
Published 2014Hebrew
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

Published in 2014, A Horse Walks into a Bar established David Grossman as one of the defining voices in literary fiction. A Horse Walks into a Bar is a novel by David Grossman that takes place during a single stand-up comedy performance in a small Israeli town. The novel explores the comedian's life story, revealing deep personal and societal traumas. It is acclaimed for its intense emotional depth and its exploration of themes such as grief, memory, and the human condition. Themes of grief, memory, identity run through the work. The book has received recognition from Man Booker International Prize 2017.

Book Details

AuthorDavid Grossman
Published2014
Country of Origin🇮🇱 Israel
LanguageHebrew
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9781784704223
Editorial Score91/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇮🇱 Israel

This book is part of Israel's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from Israel →

Editorial Assessment

A Horse Walks into a Bar by David Grossman sits within the tradition of literary fiction that treats language as seriously as plot. Published in 2014 in Israel, it engages with grief, memory, identity, trauma in ways that have earned it lasting critical attention. The book's place in the literary record rests on its presence across major prize lists and critical surveys. Among its recognitions: Man Booker International Prize 2017. Its aggregate editorial score of 91/100 reflects recognition from 1 independent editorial sources, from international prizes to specialist critical journals. What distinguishes A Horse Walks into a Bar is how it handles its central concerns — grief, memory, identity, trauma — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. David Grossman's role in the literature of Israel is well established. A Horse Walks into a Bar can be read as both a standalone achievement and as part of a broader national literary conversation about identity, history, and the possibilities of narrative form.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Booker Prize
winner · global
20170
✍️
About the Author
David Grossman
Israel
View Author →

David Grossman is a Israel author whose work in literary fiction has earned recognition from readers and critics alike.

The Tribe Manager
The Leadership Companion
The Tribe Manager
Leading People the Way Evolution Intended
Manage with human nature, you get loyalty. Manage against it, you get quiet quitting.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Midnight's Children
literary-fiction

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie· 1981
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The God of Small Things
literary-fiction

The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy· 1997
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Remains of the Day
literary-fiction

The Remains of the Day

Kazuo Ishiguro· 1989
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The White Tiger
literary-fiction

The White Tiger

Aravind Adiga· 2008
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Road
literary-fiction

The Road

Cormac McCarthy· 2007
★Pulitzer Prize★Hugo Award
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Wolf Hall
historical-fiction

Wolf Hall

Hilary Mantel· 2009
★Booker Prize★Costa Book Award
Editorial Score100/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is A Horse Walks into a Bar about?

A Horse Walks into a Bar is a novel by David Grossman that takes place during a single stand-up comedy performance in a small Israeli town. The novel explores the comedian's life story, revealing deep personal and societal traumas. It is acclaimed for its intense emotional depth and its exploration of themes such as grief, memory, and the human condition.

Who wrote A Horse Walks into a Bar?

A Horse Walks into a Bar was written by David Grossman, from Israel. First published in 2014.

What awards has A Horse Walks into a Bar won?

A Horse Walks into a Bar has received the following recognition: Man Booker International Prize 2017.

Is A Horse Walks into a Bar worth reading?

A Horse Walks into a Bar is a well-regarded book with an aggregate editorial score of 91/100 on 50 Best Books. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in grief, memory, identity.

Where can I buy A Horse Walks into a Bar?

You can buy A Horse Walks into a Bar on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is A Horse Walks into a Bar?

A Horse Walks into a Bar is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is A Horse Walks into a Bar from?

A Horse Walks into a Bar originates from Israel's literary tradition. Explore more books from Israel on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

📖More Literary FictionBrowse all Literary Fiction books🇮🇱Books from Israel🇮🇱 Israel literature📅2010s BooksPublished in the 2010s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time