A living hub for the people of Palestine — those who shaped it, and those who stood with it.

Suggest a profile
Portrait of Jabra Ibrahim Jabra

Jabra Ibrahim Jabra

Versatile writer, translator, and painter

Born
28 August 1919
Born in
Bethlehem, Palestine
Read Jabra’s storyAsk about Jabra

Why Jabra is here

Jabra Ibrahim Jabra was an influential Palestinian novelist, poet, painter, and translator. His multifaceted contributions to Arab literature and culture have cemented his place as a leading intellectual of his time.

Their story

Jabra Ibrahim Jabra was a Palestinian writer and artist known for his literary works that encompassed novels, poetry, essays, and plays. He was also recognized for his translations, particularly of Shakespeare's works into Arabic, and his contributions to the fields of education and culture in Palestine and later in Iraq.

Milestones

The moments that shaped Jabra’s path.

  1. 1939

    Awarded a scholarship to study English literature in England.

  2. 1943

    Obtained his Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Cambridge University.

  3. 1948

    Forced to flee Jerusalem due to the occupation, eventually settling in Baghdad.

  4. 1951

    Co-founded the Baghdad Society for Modern Art.

  5. 1972

    Became head of information at the National Iraqi Oil Company, contributing significantly to cultural publications.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Published the novel "Hunters in a Narrow Street," which is highly regarded in modern Arabic fiction.

  2. Founded the Baghdad Society for Modern Art, promoting modern art in the region.

  3. Edited and contributed to literary magazines, including "Workers in Oil" and "Oil and the World.".

  4. His translations of Shakespeare are considered among the best into the Arabic language.

  5. Received multiple international awards for his literary and translation works, including the Jerusalem Medal for Culture, Arts, and Literature by the PLO in 1990.

Ask about Jabra

Curious about something? An AI guide answers from Jabra’s profile.

Jabra’s guide AI

Answers come from Jabra’s profile on this page. It isn’t Jabra, and it can make mistakes.

What would you like to know about Jabra?

Ask in your own words about Jabra’s early life, work, the moments that shaped them, or their legacy. The guide answers only from this profile, so if something isn’t covered, it will tell you.

AI-generated from this profile. Spotted something wrong? Suggest an addition.

Spot a mistake?

We check every correction against sources before we change a profile. Tell us what’s wrong with Jabra’s story and, if you can, where you read it. How we check

Keep exploring

More faces from Literature

All 54 in Literature