Amin Maalouf (Arabic: أمين معلوف), born 25 February 1949 in Beirut, is a Lebanese author. He writes in French, and his works have been translated into many languages. He received the Prix Goncourt in 1993 for his novel Rock of Tanios. “Arabic” redirects here. ... is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Author (disambiguation). ... The Prix Goncourt is the most prestigious prize in French literature, given to the author of the best and most imaginative prose work of the year. Edmond de Goncourt, a successful author, critic, and publisher, bequeathed his entire estate for the foundation and maintenance of the Académie Goncourt. ... See also: 1992 in literature, other events of 1993, 1994 in literature, list of years in literature. ...

He was the second of four children. His parents' families were from the Lebanese mountain village of Ain el Kabou. They had married in Cairo in 1945, where Odette, his mother, was born of a Maronite Christian father from the village, who had left to work in Egypt, and a mother born in Turkey. Amin's father, Ruchdi, was from the Melkite Greek Catholic community. One of his ancestors was a priest whose son converted to become a Presbyterian parson. The parson's son (Maalouf's grandfather) was a "rationalist, anticlerical, probably a freemason, and refused to baptise his children". While the Protestant branch of the family sent their children to British or American schools, Maalouf's mother was a staunch Catholic who insisted on sending him to French Jesuit school. He studied sociology at the French University in Beirut.He worked as the former director of the Beirut daily an-Nahar in Beirut until the start of the civil war in 1975, when he moved to Paris as a refugee. He still lives there today. Nickname: Egypt: Site of Cairo (top center) Coordinates: , Government  - Governor Dr. Abdul Azim Wazir Area  - City 214 km²  (82. ... Maronites (Marunoye ܡܪܘܢܝܶܐ in Syriac, Mawarinah in Arabic) are members of one of the Eastern Rites of the Catholic church. ... The Melkite Greek Catholic Church (Arabic: , ) is an Eastern Rite sui juris particular Church of the Catholic Church in communion with the Pope. ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ... An-Nahar logo. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the capital of France. ...

Maalouf's novels are marked by his experiences of civil war and migration. Their characters are itinerant voyagers between lands, languages, and religions.

Works of fiction

• The First Century after Beatrice ISBN 0-7043-7051-4
• Leo Africanus ISBN 1-56131-022-0
• Rock of Tanios (Prix Goncourt 1993) ISBN 0-8076-1365-7
• Samarkand (first published 1988 titled 'Samarcande') ISBN 1-56656-293-7
• Gardens of Light ISBN 1-56656-248-1
• Ports of Call (first published 1996 titled 'Les échelles du Levant') ISBN 1-86046-890-X
• Balthasar's Odyssey ISBN 1-55970-702-X

Leo Africanus is a 1986 novel by Amin Maalouf, depicting the life of the mysterious Renaissance traveller Leo Africanus. ... The Prix Goncourt is the most prestigious prize in French literature, given to the author of the best and most imaginative prose work of the year. Edmond de Goncourt, a successful author, critic, and publisher, bequeathed his entire estate for the foundation and maintenance of the Académie Goncourt. ... Balthasars Odyssey is a book by Amin Maalouf set in 17th century Europe. ...

Opera librettos

• L’amour de loin (Love from Afar), composer Kaija Saariaho, 2000
• Adriana Mater, composer Kaija Saariaho 2003
• La Passion de Simone, composer Kaija Saariaho 2006

L’amour de loin (Love from Afar) is the first opera by the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho from a five act French libretto by Amin Maalouf. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... Kaija Saariaho (born October 14, 1952) is a Finnish composer. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... Kaija Saariaho (born October 14, 1952) is a Finnish composer. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... Kaija Saariaho (born October 14, 1952) is a Finnish composer. ...

Works of non-fiction

• The Crusades Through Arab Eyes (Les Croisades vues par les Arabes, 1986) ISBN 0-8052-0898-4
• On Identity
• In the Name of Identity: Violence and the Need to Belong (Les Identités meurtrières, 1998 ; translated by Barbara Bray, 2000) ISBN 0-14-200257-7

The Crusades Through Arab Eyes by Amin Maalouf is a collection of primary sources drawn from various Arab chronicles that seeks to provide an Arab perspective of the Crusades. ...

External links

• Amin Maalouf Site
• Interview with The Guardian
• Non Official Site