Muhammad Farid Abu Hadid was a leading literary writer, novelist and educationalist. He was a leading pioneer in the various new forms of literary writing that was emerging at his time.

Throughout his rich career extending for about forty-six years (1918-1965), he was a prolific writer of a high calibre.

He lived in a critical period in the history of Arabic literature in Egypt.

That was a period of transition from the immature and oscillating beginnings of the 19th century, to the increasingly crystallized literary forms and styles of the 20th century, alead achieved thanks to the earlier leaders of enlightenment, and real construction works started in all fields

Birth and Education

Abu-Hadid was born in Damanhour, to the north of the Nile Delta, on July 1, 1893. He was brought up in a countryside setting, where his mother was a close relative of Sheikh Selim Al Bishri, once the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar. In this environment, where deep religious faith, appreciation of literature, sense of humour and quick wit were happily blended, Abu Hadid first came in contact with the world of literature. Hence, he learned about legends, hovering in the world of imagination. With his little mind he inquired about manis curiosity to explore the unknown, awful as it might be.

Career

In 1914, Abu Hadid graduated in the teachers’ College. He was later involved in teaching positions in various parts of Egypt.
In 1937, he worked as a Censor for the press and Undersecretary of the National Library.
In 1945, he became the Dean of the Institute of Education.
In 1947, he was appointed Director of the Department o f Culture.
In 1950, he became Director of the Popular University.
In 1951, he was assigned a Director of the Department for the eradication of illiteracy.
In 1953, he reached the age of retirement, but the Ministry retained him as General Technical Advisor.
Together with some of his colleagues, he established a committee for writing, translation and publishing. The commitment later contributed with the books authored and translated by its members to the awakening of Egypt.
He translated "Arab Conquest of Egypt" written by Alfred G. Butler". Farid Abu Hadid also wrote Saladin Al-Ayubbi and El Muhalhal Sayed Rabiya.

His cultural sources

First: Arab heritage as a main source of combating of foreign cultural invasion

Second: Contact with international community through the English Language.

Farid Abu Hadid was appointed among12 members in FouadI's Academy of Arabic Language in Dec, 1946.

Abu- Hadid was a member of: • Committee of vocabulary and styles.
• Committee of literature.
• Committee of Philosophical, Social, Sciences, History and Geography.
• He participated in establishing the Egyptian Association for Social Studies 1937.
• He participated in the Conference on Primary Education in Bom bay, India, 1953.
• He was one of the founders of the Novel Club.
• He was a rapporteur of the Folkloric Arts Committee at the Supreme Council Arts, Literature and Social Sciences.

Main works

Narrative works
• Pages from a Life Story
• The Mameluke's Daughter
• Blank Verse
• Assassination of Caliph Osman
• Maysour, the Gypsy
• Khisro and Sherien

Short Stories
The Miracle

Historical Novels
• The Stray King
• Xenobia, Queen of Tadmor
• The Great Knight, Antara Sarcastic

Critical and Social Novels
• Gohha's Pain
• Thorn Roses
• I the Poeple

Stories for Children
• Amroon Shaha
• Karim Eddin Al- Bagdadi

Farid Abu Hadid was awarded:
• The Order of Merit, Second Class
• The Order of the Republic, Second class
• The State Merit Award in literature 1963/ 1964

Muhammad Farid Abu Hadid died in May, 18, 1967 at almost the age of 74.