Muhammad al-Maghut

Muhammad al-Maghout
محمد الماغوط
Born 1934
Salamiya, Syria
Died 3 April 2006 (aged 72)
Damascus, Syria
Occupation poet, playwright
Language Arabic
Nationality Syrian
Ethnicity Arab
Notable works A Room with Million Walls
East of Eden, West of God

Muhammed al-Maghout (1934- April 3, 2006) (Arabic: محمد الماغوط) was a renowned Syrian writer and poet.

He was born in the town of Salamiya of Hama Governorate in Syria to an Ismaili family.

Muhammad Maghout was credited as the father of the Arabic free verse poetry, liberating the Arabic poems from the traditional form and revolutionizing the structure of the poem. He wrote for theater, TV and cinema. Maghout's work combined satire with descriptions of social misery and malaise, illustrating what he viewed as an ethical decline among rulers in the region. Some of his themes included the problems of injustice and totalitarian governments. He co-operated with Syrian actors Dureid Lahham and Nihad Qal'i to produce some of the region's most popular and acclaimed theatrical works, such as Kasak ya Watan (Toast to the homeland) and Ghorbeh (Estrangement).

Al-Maghout was also known for his book "I will betray my homeland", a collection of essays.

Al-Maghout died at the age of 72 in April 2006.

Quotes

"Policemen, Interpol men everywhere; you search for the perfect crime... there is only one perfect crime; to be born an Arab."

"I am the one who has not been killed yet at war, by earthquake or street accident."

Works

Poetry

Books

Theater

TV

Movies

Translations

Awards

Further reading

External links