Brod, Max

Brod, Max (mäx brōd), 1884–1968, Israeli writer and composer, b. Prague. Brod is best known for his historical novels, written in German, notably The Redemption of Tycho Brahe (1916, tr. 1928) and Reubeni, Prince of the Jews (1925, tr. 1928). A lifelong friend of Franz Kafka, he wrote an excellent biography of Kafka (1937, tr. 1947) and also edited Kafka's writings. Brod's numerous other works include a biography of Heine (1934, tr. 1956), an autobiography (1960), and plays, poems, novels, and essays. His musical compositions include works for orchestra, notably Requiem Hebraicum, and for voice and piano. Long an active Zionist, Brod left Prague for Palestine in 1939 where he directed the Habima Theater.