Amin Maalouf facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amin Maalouf
Maalouf on February 16, 2016
Born	1949 Beirut, Lebanon
Occupation	Writer, scholar, novelist, and Perpetual Secretary of the Académie Française
Language	French
Notable works	Leo Africanus, The Rock of Tanios, The Crusades Through Arab Eyes, Samarkand

Amin Maalouf (born in 1949) is a famous French author who was born in Lebanon. He moved to France in 1976 and has lived there ever since. Even though his first language is Arabic, he writes all his books in French. His popular stories and books have been translated into more than 40 languages for people to read all over the world.

Maalouf is well-known for his non-fiction book, The Crusades Through Arab Eyes. In 1993, he won the Prix Goncourt, a very important French literary award, for his novel The Rock of Tanios. He has also won other major awards, like the 2010 Prince of Asturias Award for Literature.

He is a member of the Académie française, a special group of experts who protect the French language. In 2023, he was elected as its Perpetual Secretary, which is a very important leadership role.

Early Life and Family

Amin Maalouf was born in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. He grew up in a neighborhood called Badaro. He was the second of four children. His family had a diverse background. His mother was from Egypt and had Turkish ancestors, while his father was from a Christian family in a Lebanese village.

Maalouf is also the uncle of the famous trumpet player, Ibrahim Maalouf.

Career as a Writer

Before becoming a full-time writer, Maalouf worked as a director for a daily newspaper in Beirut called An-Nahar. In 1975, the Lebanese Civil War began, and he moved to Paris, France, which became his new home.

His first book, The Crusades Through Arab Eyes (1983), looks at the history of the Crusades using historical writings from the Arab world. This gave readers a different point of view on the famous historical events.

Besides writing non-fiction books, Maalouf has written many novels. His stories often feature characters who travel between different countries, cultures, and religions. He has also written four texts for musical pieces, such as operas.

Major Awards and Recognition

Amin Maalouf has received many awards for his work.

• In 1993, he won the famous Prix Goncourt for his novel The Rock of Tanios.
• In 2010, he received the Spanish Prince of Asturias Award for Literature. The award recognized his ability to tell stories that mix history, different cultures, and ideas of peace.
• In 2011, he was elected to the Académie française. This is a huge honor in France, and Maalouf was the first person from Lebanon to be chosen.
• In 2016, he won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for "Cultural Personality of the Year," which came with a large cash prize.
• In 2020, the French government gave him the National Order of Merit, a high honor presented by the President of France.

Honours and Decorations

Here are some of the official honors and medals Amin Maalouf has received from different countries.

Ribbon bar	Country	Honour
	Finland	Knight First class of the Order of the Lion of Finland
	France	Officier of the Legion of Honour
	France	Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit
	France	Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
	Lebanon	Grand Cordon of the National Order of the Cedar
	Monaco	Officier of the Order of Cultural Merit (Monaco)

Works

Maalouf's books are often inspired by his own experiences with war and moving to a new country. His characters are often travelers exploring new places and ideas.

Fiction Books

Non-Fiction Books

Writings for Music

A libretto is the text used in a musical work like an opera. Maalouf wrote the librettos for four works by the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho.

• 2000. L'Amour de loin (Love from Afar), an opera
• 2003. Adriana Mater, an opera
• 2006. La Passion de Simone, an oratorio (a large musical piece for orchestra, choir, and singers)
• 2010. Émilie, a monodrama (a play or opera for one person)

See also

In Spanish: Amin Maalouf para niños