Quick Facts
Biography
Jean-Elmouhoub Amrouche (7 February 1906 in Ighil Ali, Algeria - 16 April 1962 in Paris, France) was an Algerian francophone writer, poet and journalist. Born to a Catholic family in Algeria, his parents were Kabyles who converted to Christianity. Amrouche emigrated with his family to Tunisia while still young. He later moved to Paris for studies. His name Jean was given to him by White Fathers, among whom he rose.
Through his career he tried to describe the Algeria and its struggle to the rest of the world. He was a friend to Charles de Gaulle, and acted several times as an intermediate between him and the GPRA. He was for the independence of Algeria, but wasn't part of the FLN.
When he was a high school teacher in Tunis, Albert Memmi was one of his students. Jean Amrouche is considered an important figure in the development of francophone literature in Algeria.
He was the older brother of fellow writer Taos Amrouche. Both were the children of Fadhma Aït Mansour, author of History of My Life.
Selected works
- Chants Berbères de Kabylie, 1939
- Etoile Secrète, 1937
- Cendres : poèmes, 1928-1934, 1934