Word has been received about the death of Emily Daoud Nasrallah, née Abou Rashed, on March 13 in Beirut at the age of 86.
She is survived by her children, Ramzi, Khalil, Maha and Mona, and siblings Labeeb, George, Elias, Laura ( Zakem ) and Souhail Rashed of Prince Edward Island.
An award-winning author, reaction to her death sent shockwaves through the country.
“Lebanon and the Arab world lost an icon of literature and Lebanese creativity, and a women’s rights activist,” Saad Hariri, Prime Minister of Lebanon said in a statement announcing the death.
Culture minister Ghattas Khoury agreed, saying said that Lebanon has lost "an important female face."
Nasrallah was born on July 6, 1931, in Kaukaba, in southern Lebanon to Daoud Abi Rached and Loutfa Abou Nasr. She graduated from the American University of Beirut in 1958 with a BA in education and literature, but soon achieved acclaim for her writing with the publication of her first novel, “Birds of September” in 1962.
The book earned her instant praise and three Arabic literary prizes.
She became a prolific writer, publishing many novels, children's stories and short story collections touching on themes such as family, village life, war, emigration and women’s rights.
The latter was a subject she has maintained support for throughout her life.
Last year, the German cultural organization the Goethe Institute awarded her the Goethe Medal, an official decoration that honors non-Germans. Last month, President Michel Aoun of Lebanon honoured her as a commander of the National Order of the Cedar.