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Jurji Zaydan
Writer

Jurji Zaydan

Famoose for

Founding Al-Hilal and popularising Arab history through historical novels.

The Fleeing Mamluk · Al-Hilal

Born
14 December 1861
Birthplace
Beirut
Died
21 July 1914

More people

Jane AustenWriting Pride and Prejudice and Emma.Charles DickensWriting Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol.Toni MorrisonWriting Beloved and winning the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Jurji Zaydan

Jurji Zaydan was a Lebanese writer and publisher based in Cairo, associated with the Arab cultural renaissance known as the Nahda.

Early life

Self-education

Helped in his father’s Beirut restaurant, attended evening classes and entered the Syrian Protestant College in 1881.

Career

  1. 1880s

    Cairo

    Moved into journalism and historical writing.

  2. 1891

    First historical novel

    Published The Fleeing Mamluk.

  3. 1892

    Al-Hilal

    Founded the magazine that serialised his fiction.

Selected work

The Fleeing Mamluk

An early historical novel.

Al-Hilal

A magazine combining history, literature and contemporary affairs.

Beyond work

Family

Married Maryam Matar in 1891.

Sources & photo creditBiography and career ↗Biographical references ↗

Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.

Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author. CC0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.