Rashid Al-Daif

Abir Hamdar (University of Durham)
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Described as the “Arab world's answer to Italo Calvino or Umberto Eco” (Rakha), Rashid al-Daif is one of Lebanon’s most celebrated and prolific writers. His literary output ranges from poetry and short stories to novels, many of which have been translated into other languages and gained both commercial and critical recognition internationally. His work has also been adapted for film and the stage. Despite all this, al-Daif wonders: “I don’t know if I am a writer, although I write. I don’t say that purely for the sense of paradox, it’s a real feeling. What is it to be “a writer”? What can I say? I write. I live for writing” (Banipal).

Born in 1945 into a Christian Maronite family from Ehden, Zgharta, in the north of Lebanon, al-Daif studied Arabic Literature at the

2124 words

Citation: Hamdar, Abir. "Rashid Al-Daif". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 27 July 2012 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=13078, accessed 19 March 2024.]

13078 Rashid Al-Daif 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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