Edward Said Timeline
Throughout Edward Said’s lifetime, he examined literary, cultural, and political landscapes, offering readers an exploration of power dynamics, colonialism, national identity, and a look into the Palestinian experience. Said’s work invites readers to engage deeply with the nuanced intersections of literature and politics. In addition to his literary contributions, Said coupled his interest in classical music with making connections across differences in identity, highlighting the transformative potential of art in fostering cross-cultural understanding.
On this page, we also included a brief timeline of Edward Said’s life to provide additional information about his life story and accomplishments.
1935:
Edward Wadie Said was born on November 1 in Al–Quds, the capital of Palestine (now Jerusalem). Born to Wadie Said and Hilda Moussa, he had four sisters.
1963:
Said accepted a teaching position at Columbia University, which became his academic home. Said went on to hold the position of University Professor, the highest honor Columbia bestows.
1967:
The Six-Day war, also known as the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, shifted Said’s focus away from English and comparative literature. Instead, he started working to dispel the stereotypes and misrepresentation of Arabs in the United States media.
1970:
Said met Mariam Cortas; they married that same year and later raised a son (Wadie) and daughter (Najla) together.
Photo: https://tinyurl.com/578zk8fa
1978:
Edward Said published his best known book, Orientalism.
1998:
Edward Said attended spring commencement at the University of Michigan where he received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree.
The Michigan Daily. April 14, 1998 (vol. 108, iss. 113)
1999:
Alongside pianist and composer Daniel Barenboim, Said founded The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.
Photo: NPR (https://tinyurl.com/2yun4ddc)
2003:
After a long 12 year battle with leukemia, Edward Said died on September 25.
2022:
Mariam C. Said currently serves as the Vice President of the Barenboim-Said Foundation USA and is on the board of The Barenboim-Said Music Center Ramallah, Palestine.
Website: https://barenboimsaidusa.org/