Ulfat Idilbi

Ulfat Idlibi ( or إلفة الإدلبي (Ilifat al-Idlibi); ) (November 1912, Damascus – 21 March 2007, Paris) was a Syrian novel writer. She wrote books that became best sellers in the Arabic-speaking world, such as Dimashq ya Basimat el Huzn (Damascus - the Smile of Sadness, 1980), which was translated into many languages and aired as Basimat al Huzn (TV series). She was affected by the French occupation of Syria (French Mandate, 1919), and educated herself by reading widely from the books in the library of her uncle, Kazem Dagestani, who was also an author.

Idlibi began to write and publish stories about the area of Damascus called Al-Salihiyah in 1954. Her books tell of strong women. "وداعاً يا دمشق" // (1963) - "Goodbye, Damascus!" "يضحك الشيطان" // (1974) - "The Laugh of the Devil" "نظرة في أدبنا الشعبي" // (1974) - "Reflections on our Popular Literature" "عصي الدمع" // (1976) - "Mutiny of Tears" "دمشق يا بسمة الحزن" // (1981) - "Damascus - the Smile of Sadness" "نفحات دمشقي" // (1990) - "the Fragrances of Damascus" "حكاية جدي" // (1999) - "Story of My Grandfather"