Zakariya Tamir

Zakariya Tamir, one of the Arab world's leading short story writers and children's writers, was born in 1931 in Damascus, Syria. Largely self-educated, he worked as a laborer but published his first short story in 1956, with his first collection, Sahil al-Jawad al-Abyad (The Neighing of the White afficher plus Steed), appearing in 1960. Eventually, he also followed careers in journalism and television. From August 1978 to May 1980, Tamir was the editor of al-Ma'rifahal-Ma'rifah (Knowledge), the monthly cultural journal issued by the Ministry of Culture. He was also a founder of the Arab Writers Union in Syria, serving, among many positions, as editor of the union's journal, al Mawqif al-Adabi (Literary Attitude). Like many modern writers in the Arab world, Tamir leans heavily toward political and social themes. And, like many writers of his generation, his works show a marked response to the 1967 Six Day War. Expressionist in style, his writing is clear and spare. Denys Johnson-Davies has characterized his stories as "political and social fables and allegories," with characters drawn from the common people and the oppressed. (Bowker Author Biography) afficher moins