Emna Belhaj Yahia was born in Tunis in 1945. She is the author of four novels: Jeux de rubans (éd. Élyzad, Tunis 2011); Tasharej (éd. Read More Balland, Paris 2000); L’Étage invisible (Éditions Cérès, Tunis, and Éditions Joëlle Losfeld, Paris, 1996); and Chronique frontalière (Éditions Noël Blandin, Paris, and Éditions Cérès, Tunis, 1991) and Questions à mon pays (Éditions de l’Aube, Paris, and Éditions Déméter, Tunis, 2014). She has published essays and fiction in numerous collective works, and has received many awards and prizes, including the Comar d’or twice. She co-founded the newspaper Nissa and has been extensively involved in women’s rights in Tunisia.