Youssef El-Sebai is a renowned Egyptian prominent novelist, journalist and statesmanwho was born to a household of literary orientation. His father, as a writer, played a key role in the modern literary movement in Egypt. Besides his god-given talent, Sebai had a craving instinct for literature.

Born on June 1, 1917, Sebai spent his childhood contemplating the life of his class. His talent for literary composition was manifest at an early age. The high-school-student Sebai published his first piece of writing in Al-Megala (The Magazine) magazine in 1933.

After his graduation from the Military Academy in 1937, Sebai joined armed forces. He took up several military posts as he taught at the Military Academy. He ended up his military career in 1952 as Director of the Military Museum.

Career:

• Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Arts and Secretary - General of the Afro- Asian Writers Union, in 1959.

• 1965, Editor -in Chief, Akhar Sa’ah magazine, Chairman of Dar Al - Hilal House Board of Directors. (1971).

• In March, 1973 Minister of Culture.

• 1976, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Al-Ahram Press Organization.

• 1977, elected Head of the Egyptian Press Syndicate.

Since 1951, Youssef El-Sebai played an effective role in literary life. Starting with his endeavors, together with reputed novelist and journalist Ihsan Abdel- Qoddous to establish the novelists club, Men of Letters Association and later the Arab Writers Union. Under his supervision, several magazines were established including:

o Al- Odaba’ Al-Arab( Arab Men of Letters)
o Al - Risala Al - Gadida (New Risala "Message")
o AL- Zohour ( Flowers)
o Al - Thaqafa (Culture)
o Al- Qissa(Novel)
o Lotus
o Selections of Afro - Asian Short Stories
o Selections of Afro - Asian Short Poetry

Works

His works include:

1. Na'aeb Azrael (1947) …Deputy of Azrael (Angel of Death)

2. Ard al Nefaq (1949) … Land of Hypocrisy

3. Inni Rahela (1950) … Tragic Departure

4. Umm Ratiba (1951) Mother of Ratiba

5. Saqqa Mat (1952) ... Water-Carrier Is Dead

6. Bain El Atlal (1959) ... Among the Ruins (1959).

7. Rudda kalbi (1954) ... Give me my Heart Back

8. Nadia (1960)

9. Jaffat Al Domo'a (1962) … Tears Dried

10. Lail Leh Aakher (1963) … Night With An End

11. Aqwa Min El Zaman (1965) … Stronger Than Time

12. Nahnu La Nazra'a Al Shawk (1969) … We don't Plant Thorns

13. Lasta Wahdak (1970) … You Are Not Alone

14. Al 'Aomr Lahza (1973) … Life But A Moment

Awards

• Order of Merit of the first class, United Arab Republic 1962.

• Order of Merit of the Grand Knight Class, Italian Republic, 1963.

• Order of Lenin, Former -Soviet Union,1970

• Order of the Republic, Arab Republic of Egypt, 1975.

• Was awarded the State Prize of Merit in literature, when he was Minister of Culture, but he declined to accept it as the Arts and Letters Council who awarded the prize was an affiliate to his ministry.

• He was awarded the "Order of the Republic" on the day of his martyrdom, February 18,1978.

He was assassinated on February 18, 1978 by an extremist Palestinian group in Nicosia, Cyprus, where he was attending a conference on peace and security for the nations of the world.