Samir Atallah (Arabic: سمير عطاالله) (born 24 June 1941 in Btaddine El Loukche, Lebanon) is a prominent Lebanese journalist, author and political analyst.
He currently writes a daily column in the leading Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat and a weekly editorial in the leading Lebanese daily An-Nahar. Atallah is a regular guest on Lebanese and Arab television and radio stations as a political and social commentator.
Atallah has written his daily column in Asharq Al-Awsat since 1987 and has been with An Nahar in various roles intermittently since the late 1950s. For An-Nahar, he has served as correspondent in various European capitals as well as correspondent to the United Nations.
Atallah has also been managing editor of Al-Anba in Kuwait, and editor-in-chief of Al-Sayad in London and Al Osbo’ il Arabi in Beirut.
He is also the author of a number of novels, historical books and travelogues. His career has already spanned almost five decades, during which he has met and interviewed many leading figures in the contemporary world from Margaret Thatcher and Jacques Chirac to Indira Gandhi and Queen Elizabeth II.
Samir Atallah is married to May Francis, and has two children, Nasri and Maria. He resides in Beirut.
Selected List of Works
– The Village Years (in English)
– Traveler Without A Port (Moussafir Bila Mina’ – Published in London)
– The Pistachio Salesman (Ba’ee al Fustok – Published in Beirut)
– Journeys in the Lands of Others (Masafat fi Awtan al Akhareen – Published by Dar An Nahar, Beirut)
– On People and Cities (Nass wa Moudoun – Published by Dar Al Hani)
– The Ink Caravan (Qafilat al Hibr – Published by Saqi Books, London)
– The Generals of the Levant (Generalat al Sharq – Published by Saqi Books, London)
– Sinbad’s Diary (Awraq al Sindibad – Published by Dar Al Hadr)
– Youmna (Published by Dar An Nahar)