On 23 November 2023 Egypt lost a literary figure of singular stature, Yacoub al-Sharouni.
Mr Sharouni was famous as a writer of vibrant children’s literature; over his lifetime he earned the title: the children’s friend.
Mr Sharouni was deputy to the Minister of Culture, and former head of the National Council for Children’s Culture. He was honoured by, among others, Bologna Children’s Book Fair; the Children’s Book Council; the Egyptian Supreme Council of Culture; and the Egyptian Children’s Boom Council.
He leaves behind a son, Magdy who is a doctor and resides in the US; and a daughter Hala who specialises in designing teaching and narration methods.
In October 2014, Watani’s Salwa Stephen interviewed Mr Sharouni in a heart-to-heart talk which we re-post in honour of the great writer.
Watani International
27 November 2023