Jean Amrouche

Who was Jean Amrouche?

Jean-Elmouhoub Amrouche was an Algerian francophone writer, poet and journalist. Born to a Catholic family in Algeria, his parents were Kabyles who converted to Christianity. Amrouche emigrated with his family to Tunisia while still young. He later moved to Paris for studies. His name Jean was given to him by White Fathers, among whom he rose.

Through his career he tried to describe the Algeria and its struggle to the rest of the world. He was a friend to Charles de Gaulle, and acted several times as an intermediate between him and the GPRA. He was for the independence of Algeria, but wasn't part of the FLN.

When he was a high school teacher in Tunis, Albert Memmi was one of his students. Jean Amrouche is considered an important piece in the development of francophone literature in Algeria.

He was the older brother of fellow writer Taos Amrouche. Both were the children of Marguerite Fadhma Ath Mansour, author of History of my life.