Edward Said: Palestinian-American Scholar and Author of Orientalism Dies

Edward Said was a Palestinian-American literary critic and professor, a founder of postcolonial studies. Born on November 1, 1935, in Jerusalem, he taught at Columbia University from 1963 until his death.

His book Orientalism (1978) critiqued Western representations of the Arab and Islamic world and became foundational. He served on the Palestinian National Council from 1977 to 1991, delivered the BBC Reith Lectures in 1993 and co-founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra with conductor Daniel Barenboim in 1999.

Said won the Lannan Literary Award for Lifetime Achievement and shared the Prince of Asturias Award with Barenboim in 2002. He was an accomplished pianist and worked as music critic for The Nation. He married Mariam Cortas and had two children. He died in New York City on September 24, 2003, at age 67, of leukemia.

Achievements: Orientalism (1978), Prince of Asturias Award (2002), West-Eastern Divan Orchestra (1999).

Birth: November 1, 1935 - Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine.

Profession: Professor, critic and author.

Interesting Facts: The Palestinian Authority briefly banned his books in 1995.