Birhanu Zerihun (1933/4 – 1987) was an Ethiopian writer noted for his clear and crisp writing style, which contrasted against the more complex writing style popular in his time. While he started writing literature in school, Zerihun never wrote professionally until he became a journalist in 1959/1960. Initially he embarked on various literary pursuits, including novels such as Ye'imba debdabbéwoch ("Yearful Letters"), a collection of short stories titled Birr ambar sebberelliwo ("He Pierced the Hymen"), and writings dealing with Ethiopian political themes such as starvation. Among the latter genre, Yetewodros Emba and Yetangut Mister are noted works of historical fiction about Emperor Tewordos II. Birhanu has written several popular plays, but above all is famous for his trilogy novel Ma'ebel Ye'abiot Wazema ("Wave on the eve of a revolution"), Ma'ebel Ye'abiot Mebacha ("Wave on the dawn of the revolution") and Ma'ebel Ye'abiot Magist ("Wave on the aftermath of the revolution"). They were novels which depicts and interpretes the social structure of Ethiopian society during the feudalism era and after the revolution.