Prominent Lebanese novelist and lifelong women's rights activist Emily Nasrallah has died at the age of 87. A distinguished author of novels, children's books and short stories, Nasrallah focused her writing on themes of family, village life and emigration, as well identity and the lasting effects of Lebanon's 15-year civil war. A mother of four, Nasrallah grew up in the southern Lebanese town of Kfeir before moving to Beirut, where she took up journalism and gained quick acclaim for her literary talents.
She published her first novel, "Birds of September", in 1962 shortly after graduating from the American University of Beirut with a degree in education and literature. The book earned her three Arabic literary prizes and kick-started an influential career that spanned decades of political tumult in Lebanon. Her latest book, published just this week and entitled "The Beautiful Times", is a journey through Lebanon in the 1950s that includes encounters with leading women and activists.