Literatureארנה קזין

Orna Coussin

Orna Coussin is an Israeli author, critic, journalist and essayist who won the Prime Minister's Prize for Hebrew Literary Works in 2009.

born 1967Essays on consumer cultureThe Eliana Davidov detective novellasTeaching creative non-fiction writingThe essay How to Resist

Born: 22 October 1967, Scotland
Occupation: critic, writer, essayist, translator
Education: Blich High School

Orna Coussin was born in 1967 in Scotland

Orna Coussin was born in Scotland on October 22, 1967. She moved to Israel with her parents and grew up in Ramat Gan, where she went to Blich High School. She played handball for Maccabi Ramat Hen and for the Israeli national team.

From 1991 to 1997 she wrote for Hadashot, Kol Ha'ir and Ha'ir. From 1997 to the end of 2006 she wrote for the Gallery supplement of Haaretz on culture, society, feminism and sexual identity. From 2007 she wrote for Haaretz and LaIsha and edited Ka'et, a literary journalism series.

Her books include essays on consumer culture, the story collection Picnic, the parenthood diary Zero to Twelve, and detective novellas about ornithologist Dr. Eliana Davidov. One story from Picnic was adapted into the film How to Be Alone. Her later essay books include How to Resist and How to Stay, written after November 2022.

Since 2007 she has also taught writing of essays, memoir and criticism, including at the Bezalel Academy and in Mandel Foundation and Van Leer Institute programs. In 2023 she lit a torch at the Alternative Independence Day Ceremony, and in 2024 she was arrested at a protest for the release of the hostages. She lives in Tel Aviv with her partner and their two daughters.