Bishara Abd Allah al-Khuri al-Bairuti, also known as al-Akhtal as-Saghir, was a journalist, storyteller and one of Lebanon’s most famous poets in modern era. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, he studied at the 3 Moons School, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese School and the Maronite Wisdom School before attending the College des Freres to study French. In 1908, he founded Al-Bark (Thunderbolt) newspaper, a weekly literature newspaper that eventually become a daily paper after World War I. Through Al-Bark, al-Khuri tackled many social and political issues which reflected the prevailing attitudes of rebellion against the Ottoman authorities at the time. In 1912, he went on to found Sada Al-Bark (The Echo of the Thunderbolt) newspaper. During this time, al-Khuri started affixing the words “al-Akhtal as-Saghir” to his signature, which later became his title. In 1925, he was elected as head of the Lebanese Press Syndicate and in 1946 he served as a technical adviser of the Arabic Language at the Ministry of National Education in Beirut. He also served as a corresponding member of the Arab Academy in Damascus in 1932. Among his famous works include three collection of poems entitled Shi’ir al-Akhtal as-Saghir (al-Akhtal as-Saghir’s Poetry), Al-Watar Al-Jareeh (The Injured Tendon) and Al-Hawa wa Al-Shabab (The Passion and the Youth). He also published Min Bakaya Al-Thakira (From the Remnants of Memory), Bayn Al-Shi’ir wa Al-Siyasa (Between Poetry and Politics) and a famous story entitled Al-Riyal Al-Mozayyaf (The Fake Riyal).