writer

24Jul

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Noteworthy, Profiles, United Arab Emirates

Sharifa Al Shamlan, Writer

Famous Saudi woman writer Sharifa Al Shamlan, famous for her press columns and literary writings, had died due to complications of COVID-19, local media reported. For 27 years, the writer has presented many studies and research, and is a prominent opinion writer, and has many articles in some Saudi newspapers. A holder of a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Baghdad University in Iraq, she held several posts, including the director-general of women’s social supervision in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. The late writer has published six prominent short story collections including: a child swimming in the river, clips from a life, as if nothing were happening, the city of clouds and others. She was laid to rest on Thursday in the Saudi eastern city of Dammam.

15Jun

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Noteworthy, Profiles, South Africa

Elsa Joubert, writer

Elsa Joubert OIS ‑ a Sestigers Afrikaans-language writer succumbed to Covid-19-related caused in Cape Town on 14 June 2020. She rose to prominence with her novel Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena, which was translated into 13 languages, as well as staged as a drama and filmed as Poppie Nongena. Elsa Joubert grew up in Paarl and matriculated from the all-girls school La Rochelle in Paarl in 1939. She then studied at the University of Stellenbosch from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1942 and an SED (Secondary Education Diploma) in 1943. She continued her studies at the University of Cape Town which she left with a Master's degree in Dutch-Afrikaans literature in 1945. After graduating, Joubert taught at the Hoër Meisieskool, an all-girls high sch...

11Jun

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Noteworthy, Profiles, Spain

Araceli Herrero Figueroa, writer

Araceli Herrero Figueroa ‑ a Spanish writer – died of Covid-19-related complications on 10 June 2020 in Lugo.

Ratnakar Ramkrushna Matkari, writer and film producer

18May

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India, Noteworthy, Profiles

Ratnakar Ramkrushna Matkari, writer and film producer

Ratnakar Ramkrushna Matkari ‑ a Marathi writer, a movie and play producer/director, and a self-taught artist from Maharashtra, India – died on 17 May 2020 in Mumbai, having tested positive for COVID-19 the week before. Matkari was born on 17 November 1938 in Mumbai. After earning a degree in economics from Mumbai University in 1958, he worked at the Bank of India for the next twenty years. Since 1978, he devoted his time exclusively to writing & production/direction of movies and plays. He was married to artist Pratibha Matkari. Matkari's first work, the one-act play Wedi Manase, was presented in 1955 on All India Radio in Mumbai. His play Pahuni was presented the next year at another venue. Matkari worked as a columnist for newspapers and magazines in the 1970s. He wrote ...

18May

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Bangladesh, Noteworthy, Profiles

Anisuzzaman, writer and activist

Anisuzzaman a Bangladeshi academic of Bengali literature – died on April 17 2020 due to COVID¬19. Anisuzzaman was an activist who took part in the Language Movement (1952), participated in Mass Uprising (1969), and took part in the War of Liberation (1971). He was a member of the Planning Commission to the Government of Bangladesh during the Bangladesh liberation war and a member of the National Education Commission set up by the government after liberation. He was inducted as a National Professor by the Government of Bangladesh in 2018. Anisuzzaman (18 February 1937 – 14 May 2020) was a Bangladeshi academic of Bengali literature. He was an activist who took part in the Language Movement (1952), participated in Mass Uprising (1969), and took part in the War of Liberation (1971). He ...

16May

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Brazil, Noteworthy, Profiles

Olga Savary, writer & poet

Olga Savary ‑ a Brazilian writer, poet, and literary critic – succumbed to Covid-19 on 15 May 2020. Savary's mother, Célia Nobre de Almeida, was born in Pará, and her father, Bruno, was a Russian engineer. She spent her childhood in Belém, Monte Alegre, Fortaleza, and Rio de Janeiro. Her parents separated in 1942 and Savary went to Rio de Janeiro to live with her uncle. Here, she discovered her love of writing, although her mother preferred for her a musical career. She hid her writings, and they were kept by a friend at the Brazilian Press Association. Savary studied at the Colégio Moderno in Belém. Afterwards, she returned to Rio de Janeiro and continued her career. She wrote several publications and was a member of PEN Inter...

Mohammad Riad Hussain Ismat, writer and diplomat

14May

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Noteworthy, Profiles, United States

Mohammad Riad Hussain Ismat, writer and diplomat

Mohammad Riad Hussain Ismat ‑ a Syrian writer, critic and theatre director – died on 13 May 2020. Ismat served as Minister of Culture of Syria from 3 October 2010 to 23 June 2012. Ismat studied English literature at the Damascus University and graduated in 1968. In 2000, he became Rector of the Academy of Dramatic Arts, after years of teaching. In 2003, Ismat became Director General of Syrian State Radio and Television, then held the post of Syrian Vice-Minister of Culture. In 2005, he was appointed Ambassador to Pakistan and in 2010, Syrian Ambassador to Qatar. In October 2010, Ismat was appointed as Minister of Culture, serving in that post until 23 June 2012. From 2013 to 2014 he served as Buffett Center Visiting Scholar at Northwestern University. Ismat has directed more than...

10May

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Brazil, Noteworthy, Profiles

Sérgio Sant’Anna, writer

Sérgio Sant'Anna a Brazilian writer, born in the city of Rio de Janeiro died on May 10, 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, after being hospitalized with symptoms of the Covid-19 disease. He wrote poems, plays, short stories, novellas and novels. His works have been translated to German and Italian. His works are heavily metafictional and had influenced a newer generation of Brazilian writers.

2May

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China, Noteworthy, Profiles, United States

Yu Lihua, writer

Yu Lihua a Chinese-American writer who authored at least 45 works of fiction died on On 1 May 2020 due to COVID-19 in Washington. Yu Lihua was born in Shanghai and went to university in Taiwan, taking history at National Taiwan University. Then she went to the United States to do a graduate degree in journalism at UCLA and then to teach Chinese literature in the Department of Comparative University at the State University of New York. Her work was published both in English and in Chinese.

22Apr

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Noteworthy, Profiles, United States

Joel Rogosin, TV producer & writer

Joel Rogosin an American television producer and screenwriter died from complications of COVID-19 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on April 21, 2020, at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Deborah, and their three daughters, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Rogosin was known for producing such television series as 77 Sunset Strip, The Virginian, Ironside, Magnum, P.I., and Knight Rider from the 1960s to the 1990s. He was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for his production work on Ironside in 1970 and 1971, and received his third Emmy nomination for producing Magnum, P.I. in 1983. Joel Rogosin was born on October 30, 1932, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was raised in Boston and Virginia, where he attended hi...