Amin Maalouf (1949-present) was born in 
Beirut, 
Lebanon where he worked as a journalist until the start of the civil-war in 1975.  He moved to 
Paris as a refugee where he still lives today.
Writing in French his works have been translated into many languages.
Works of fiction:
-  First Century after Bearice
-  Leo the African 
-  Rock of Tanios
-  Samarkand
-  Gardens of Light
-  Ports of Call (first published 1996 titled 'Les Echelles du Levant')
-  Balthazar's Odessey
Works of non-fiction:
-  The Crusades through Arab Eyes
-  On Identity
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