Ahmed Shawqi (1868 - 1932) an Egyptian poet and dramatist who pioneered the modern Arabic literary movement, most notably introducing the genre of poetic epics to the Arabic literary tradition. Shawqi also produced distinctive poetry that is widely considered to be the most prominent of the 20th century Arabic literary movement. Raised in a privileged setting, his family (Kurdish Origin) was prominent and well-connected with the court of the Khedive of Egypt. Upon graduating from high school, he attended law school, obtaining a degree in translation. Shawqi was then offered a job in the court of the Khedive Abbas II, which he immediately accepted.

After a year working in the court of the Khedive, Shawqi was sent to continue his studies in Law at the Universities of Montpellier and Paris for three years. While in France, he was heavily influenced by the works of French playwrights, most notably Molière and Racine.

He returned to Egypt in 1894, and remained a prominent member of Arab literary culture until the British forced him into exile in southern Spain, Andalusia, in 1914. Shawqi remained there until 1920, when he returned to Egypt. In 1927 he was crowned by his peers Amir al- Sho’araa’ (literally: the Prince of Poets) in recognition of his considerable contributions to the literary field.

His works
Plays
Shawqi was the first in Arabic literature to write poetic plays

He wrote five tragedies:
Majnun Laila (literally: the Crazy about Laila)
his first play. The Death of Cleopatra

his most famous play.
'Antara
Ali bek al-Kabeer
Qambeez

and two comedies:
As-Set Huda (literally: Madam Huda)
Al-Bakhila (literally: the Miser)
in addition to a prose play: the Princess of Andalusia.

Poetry
Ash-Shawqiyyat, his selected works, in four volumes, including Nahj al-Burda, a tribute to the prophet Muhammed
A long poem about the History of Islam, named The States of Arabs and the Great Men of Islam.

Prose Shawqi wrote several novels. He also wrote chapters of prose, as he called them, about several and unrelated subjects, and collected them under the title: the Markets of Gold.