10 Incredible Lebanese Female Writers And Poets
Lebanese are famously known for their way with words.
Our culture’s expressive nature has helped produce countless literary prodigies who can beautifully communicate that which others often cannot properly describe.
However, there is an entire demographic of these Lebanese visionaries who are criminally underrated and gain far less exposure than they deserve: our women.
It is important to remember that for every Khalil Gibran , there is a May Ziade. Thus, here are 10 incredible Lebanese female writers and poets whom you should immediately add to your reading list.
#1 May Ziade
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A classic in her own right, May Ziade was a Lebanese writer and poet who managed to break into a literary scene almost completely dominated by men in the early 1900s.
She is credited as one of the first Middle-Eastern feminist writers, a pioneer and a role model for other female writers in the region and around the world.
Famous works of hers include Humiliation and Rumors , Equality , and Platters of Crumbs .
#2 Hoda Barakat
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Hoda Barakat is a Lebanese novelist currently based in Paris.
Educated at the Lebanese University, she has published 5 novels, 2 plays, and many short stories. Her works often explore themes of war and tragedy from a psychological perspective.
Her novel The Night Mail was awarded the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (Ipaf) in 2019.
Along with The Night Mail , her works include The Stone of Laughter , The Tiller of Waters , and Disciples of Passion .
#3 Hanan al-Shaykh
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Hanan al-Shaykh is a distinguished Lebanese novelist, playwright, and journalist.
One of the most acclaimed contemporary Middle-Eastern writers, her works often center around the psychological nature and misconception of women in the culture of the region. She has published eight novels and been shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize.
As a journalist, she contributed to Al-Hasna’ women’s magazine and interviewed prominent Lebanese women for television.
Her famous works include Women of Sand and Myrrh , Only in London , Two Women by the Sea , and The Locust and The Bird and The Occasional Virgin , a memoir of her mother.
#4 Emily Nasrallah
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Emily Nasrallah was a famed Lebanese writer and women’s activist. Her debut novel Birds of September won 3 Arabic literary awards and is widely considered a classic, taught in many Arabic schools.
She explored ideas related to the concept of leaving one’s home; the pain those left behind feel, the fear of new surroundings, and the bittersweet realization of the impossibility of return.
She received the Goethe Medal , among other awards, in 2017.
On top of Birds of September , her notable works include A House Not Her Own: Stories from Beirut , and Flight Against Time .
#5 Jessica Semaan
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A rising poet to keep your eye on, Jessica Semaan is a Lebanese poet currently based in America.