About
May Ziadé, born Marie Elias Ziade in 1886 in Nazareth, is a major figure of modern Arabic literature. Settled in Cairo in 1908, she hosted a famous literary salon for nearly two decades, frequented by leading intellectuals of the time. A polyglot, she mastered nine languages and published poetry, essays, and biographies. Her work and commitment to women's rights make her a pioneer of Arab feminism. She maintained a 19-year correspondence with Khalil Gibran, without ever meeting him. After a period of depression and forced hospitalization, she died in Cairo in 1941.
* 1886-02-11 — † 1941-10-17
Major works
- Fleurs de rêve (1911)poetry collection
- Bâhithat el-Bâdiya (1920)biography
Key milestones
- 1912Founded her Tuesday literary salon in Cairo.
- 1929Became owner and editor-in-chief of the newspaper al-Mahrousa.
- 1941Died in Cairo at Maadi Hospital.
Themes
feminismArab identityexile and nostalgialove and correspondenceliterature and society
Sources: online-exhibit.aub.edu.lb · english.ahram.org.eg