News Center – Syrian writer I'tidal Rafi' is considered one of the most prominent female voices in modern Arabic literature. She left a clear mark in the field of the short story thanks to her style that combines poeticism and realism.

She was known for her boldness in addressing women's and societal issues, and for her ability to transform daily details into vibrant narrative scenes. Her career extends between journalism and creative writing, and her works form an important part of Syrian literary memory.

She was born in 1937 in the city of Aley in Lebanon, then moved in her childhood to Damascus, where the features of her literary personality began to form. From her early years, she found in reading a special world that allowed her to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, which later contributed to shaping her intellectual vision and creative path.

She married at the age of eighteen, and although early marriage imposed a quiet domestic life on her, she was able to turn that phase into a space for reflection and writing. She later continued her education and obtained a degree in history from the University of Damascus, beginning her professional career between teaching, journalism, and cultural work.

I'tidal Rafi' worked for several Syrian and Arab newspapers and magazines. Her journalistic work helped hone her ability to capture daily details and turn them into vibrant narrative material.

Her literary experience was characterized by an intense, poetic style that relies on gentle irony and simple language that conceals a clear human depth.

In her works, she addressed issues of women, memory, war, and internal alienation. Among her most famous works are: The City of Alexander (1980), A Woman from Aries (1986), Zero (1988), Beirut All Cities: Scheherazade All Women (1989), The Day Zeinab Ran Away (1996), The Departure of Swans (1998), The Alphabet of Memory (2000), and Salty Eyelashes (2013).

Starting in 1990, I'tidal Rafi' began a long struggle with cancer, which pushed her to write her last novel, "My Friend Cancer," which remained unfinished. In her final years, she resided in the "House of Happiness for the Elderly" in Damascus, away from the spotlight, content with reading.

I'tidal Rafi' passed away on August 9, 2018, at the age of 81, leaving behind an important literary legacy in the path of the modern Syrian short story and a prominent contribution to representing the female voice in Arabic literature.