Samuel Shimon

Born into an Assyrian family in Al-Habbaniyah, Iraq, in 1956, he left his country in 1979 and has since lived in Damascus, Amman, Beirut, Nicosia, Aden, Cairo, Tunis and Paris: finally residing in London.

His first novel An Iraqi in Paris was published in 2005.

Iraqi writer Samuel Shimon came to Newcastle and Northumberland in February 2004. He explored the Tyne from the river mouth to Chollerford. He also visited Corbridge Roman Fort, Chesters, Arbeia, The Tyne and Millennium Bridges in Newcastle, Baltic, The Sage Gateshead and the Museum of Antiquities.

His study of the river links to his historical association with the Tigris Ferrymen, from the now Iraq / Iran area and will result in a new short story.

He began writing autobiographical short stories in 1979 and poetry in 1985, publishing in Arab newspapers and magazines. Since 1998 he has been the assistant editor of Banipal magazine, which he co-founded with its editor Margaret Obank.

Samuel Shimon has worked as a journalist and cultural editor and since 2001 has developed and edited online Arabic newspapers including his own literary web site, www.kikah.com

Samuel was part of Banipal Live! - a national tour in Autumn 2004 of 4 Arab authors which also included Hoda Barakat, Mourid Barghouti and Saadi Youssef. They read at various places around the country including Newcastle upon Tyne's Live Theatre.

As part of Writing on the Wall Samuel read his work at Arbeia Roman Fort and Carvoran Roman Fort.

The inclusion of Samuel in the Writing on the Wall programme continues support for Arab writers and the important international and multicultural aspect of the project.