Mahmoud Salem
Mahmoud Salem محمود سالم | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1931 Alexandria |
| Died | 24 February 2013 (aged 82) Cairo |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Language | Arabic |
| Citizenship | Egyptian |
| Education | High school |
| Period | Late 1960s - 2000s |
| Genre | Children literature Detective fiction Mystery fiction |
| Notable works | The 13 Devils The Five Adventurers |
Mahmoud Salem (Template:Lang-ar; 1931 - 24 February 2013) was an eminent Egyptian author who was known for children books and mystery series, most notably Al Moghameron Al Khamsa.
Early life and education
Salem was born in Alexandria in 1931 as a son of a naval officer.[1][2] He was raised in different cities in Egypt.[3]
He first attended a military college, but left it due to his membership to a leftist group during the late 1940s.[1] Then he joined Cairo University's faculty of law.[1] However, he again left his studies.[1]
Career and activities
After leaving his studies at the faculty of law, Salem began to work as a journalist.[1] During the 1950s, he worked for the state-run daily Al Gomhuria, firstly as military reporter during the Suez war and then, as head of the crime section.[3] During the 1960s he worked for the Radio and Television Magazine and then, for the children’s magazine Samir where he began to write detective and mystery fiction.[3] He fled the country and lived in Lebanon when he was forced to exile due to his support for the Nasserist views in the 1970s.[3] Until his last days, he published weekly political articles in the newspaper, Al Tahrir.[4] One of his latest articles published on 22 February 2013 involved criticisms against the Muslim Brotherhood.[4]
Works
Salem was the author of many well-known books in Arabic, targeting children and adolescents. Total number of his books is nearly 300.[5][6] One of his books is the 13 Devils written by him while he was in exile in Lebanon.[3] It was series of mystery novels, in which 13 characters from different Arab countries deal with plots of foreign intelligence service.[3] In 2007, one of his stories was filmed.[5] Al Moghameron Al Khamsa or The Five Adventurers, a mystery series, is about the adventures of five children.[2]
Death
Salem died in Cairo at the age of 82 on 24 February 2013.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e Saad, Mohammed (25 February 2013). "Pioneering children's author Mahmoud Salem dies at 84". Ahram Online. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Departure of Egyptian Mystery Author Mahmoud Salem". Alowais. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "Prominent fiction writer Mahmoud Salem dies at 84". Egypt Independent. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Egyptian author Mahmoud Salem dies age 84". Daily News. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ^ a b c "Salem passes away". Poetry News Agency. Cairo. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ^ Patterson Iskander, Sylvia (1993). "Arabic Adventurers and American Investigators: Cultural Values in Adolescent Detective Fiction" (PDF). Children's Literature. 21: 118–131. doi:10.1353/chl.0.0266. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
