Salim al-Bustani

Salim al-Bustani ( / ; 1848–1884) was a Lebanese journalist, novelist and political figure who edited many publications with his father Butrus. He is known for being the pioneer of the genre of historical novel in Arabic.

Early life and education Bustani was born in a village, Abayh, in the northwest of Deir al-Qamar on 28 December 1848. He was the second eldest of Butrus al-Bustani and Rahil Ata's nine children. He studied French, English, Turkish and Arabic. Salim resigned from the post 1871 and began to work as an administrator of the National School founded by his father.

Salim had been editing a newspaper, Al-Janna, established by him and Butrus in 1870. His column in the magazine was titled Reform.

In addition, Salim was a member of various organizations. He was both a member and vice president of the Syrian Scientific Society. He also served as a member of the Eastern Scientific Society and the Municipality of Beirut. He was buried in Beirut after the funeral ceremony in the Protestant church. was one of the earliest novels in Arabic. His other novels were also published in the same title.

Salim was part of the Nahda. His articles in Al-Jinan and in other publications attempted to make a synthesis between the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmejid's principle of the equality of the Ottoman citizens before the law and the Western concepts. He argued that there were significant damages caused by this since these countries bought raw materials from the Middle Eastern countries and sold the products made with these materials to the same countries. He was one of the supporters of women's education which his mother, Rahil, attached importance. Salim stated "She who rocks the cradle with her left hand moves the world with her right." He was among the Lebanese intellectuals who advocated the idea of romantic love between individuals with freedom.