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Charles Corm
Charles Corm (1894–1963) was a Lebanese writer, industrialist, and philanthropist. He is considered to be the leader of the Phoenicianism movement in Lebanon, which ignited a surge of nationalism that led to Lebanon's independence. In a country torn by sectarian conflicts, his intention was to find a common root shared by all Lebanese beyond their religious beliefs. At the age of 40, he quit a successful business empire to dedicate his time to writing and philanthropy. In addition to his prolific literary legacy that can now be found in most libraries and universities around the world, Charles Corm left one of the most substantial fortunes in the Middle East.
Although most Lebanese authors at the time wrote in Arabic, Corm mostly wrote in French. One of his main intellectual contributions is La Revue Phénicienne, a publication he founded in July 1919 in which many writers such as Michel Chiha and Said Akl took part and which inspired Lebanon's independence. Rushdy Maalouf, the father of Académie Française member and Francophone novelist Amin Maalouf, wrote: "Charles was the first one to show us how to love Lebanon, how to chant and rhapsodize Lebanon, how to vaunt and defend Lebanon, and how to become master-builders of this Lebanon."
His La Montagne Inspirée ("The Sacred Mountain" in English), earned him the Edgar Allan Poe International Prize of Poetry in 1934. Additionally, Corm, whose father Daoud Corm was a teacher and mentor to the young Khalil Gibran, was the French translator of Gibran's English masterpiece The Prophet.
Upon graduation at the age of 18, Corm traveled to New York City where he rented a small office on Wall Street to conduct an import/export business. There he witnessed the boom in automobiles and Henri Ford’s incredible success. His American experience left an impression and, following the end of World War I Corm secured the Ford Motor Company dealership for the Middle East region, along with other big American companies like Firestone and Goodyear. In the years to come, these automobiles would contribute to developing roads and help introduce mechanized agriculture in a region scared by a recent famine.
In 1928, Corm designed the headquarters for his company, in a nod to the skyscrapers being built in America at the time. The building was erected in 1929 in Beirut, later becoming the Corm family home. It was one of Beirut’s first skyscrapers with a very large gardens containing a variety of artistic and archaeological relics as well as rare trees and native plants.
His wealth made, Corm decided to devote his life to literature and philanthropy on the occasion of his 40th birthday.
Corm helped found several Lebanese institutions, including the National Museum, the National Library and other state and cultural landmarks. He also personally oversaw the Lebanese pavilion at the 1939 World Fair in New York City, for which Mayor LaGuardia made him Citizen of Honor of New York City, the highest distinction given out by the city.
Corm's close friend Said Akl noted: "Charles not only was a guiding force behind Lebanon’s independence, he also helped lay Lebanon’s constitutional foundations and spent his own money building the political, social and cultural landmarks needed to support our vision of Lebanon. During those years, it seemed very clear to me that Charles did not care much about money. Rather, a deep sense of commitment to what he loved had rewarded him with outstanding success in both business and literature."
Charles Corm
Charles Corm (1894–1963) was a Lebanese writer, industrialist, and philanthropist. He is considered to be the leader of the Phoenicianism movement in Lebanon, which ignited a surge of nationalism that led to Lebanon's independence. In a country torn by sectarian conflicts, his intention was to find a common root shared by all Lebanese beyond their religious beliefs. At the age of 40, he quit a successful business empire to dedicate his time to writing and philanthropy. In addition to his prolific literary legacy that can now be found in most libraries and universities around the world, Charles Corm left one of the most substantial fortunes in the Middle East.
Although most Lebanese authors at the time wrote in Arabic, Corm mostly wrote in French. One of his main intellectual contributions is La Revue Phénicienne, a publication he founded in July 1919 in which many writers such as Michel Chiha and Said Akl took part and which inspired Lebanon's independence. Rushdy Maalouf, the father of Académie Française member and Francophone novelist Amin Maalouf, wrote: "Charles was the first one to show us how to love Lebanon, how to chant and rhapsodize Lebanon, how to vaunt and defend Lebanon, and how to become master-builders of this Lebanon."
His La Montagne Inspirée ("The Sacred Mountain" in English), earned him the Edgar Allan Poe International Prize of Poetry in 1934. Additionally, Corm, whose father Daoud Corm was a teacher and mentor to the young Khalil Gibran, was the French translator of Gibran's English masterpiece The Prophet.
Upon graduation at the age of 18, Corm traveled to New York City where he rented a small office on Wall Street to conduct an import/export business. There he witnessed the boom in automobiles and Henri Ford’s incredible success. His American experience left an impression and, following the end of World War I Corm secured the Ford Motor Company dealership for the Middle East region, along with other big American companies like Firestone and Goodyear. In the years to come, these automobiles would contribute to developing roads and help introduce mechanized agriculture in a region scared by a recent famine.
In 1928, Corm designed the headquarters for his company, in a nod to the skyscrapers being built in America at the time. The building was erected in 1929 in Beirut, later becoming the Corm family home. It was one of Beirut’s first skyscrapers with a very large gardens containing a variety of artistic and archaeological relics as well as rare trees and native plants.
His wealth made, Corm decided to devote his life to literature and philanthropy on the occasion of his 40th birthday.
Corm helped found several Lebanese institutions, including the National Museum, the National Library and other state and cultural landmarks. He also personally oversaw the Lebanese pavilion at the 1939 World Fair in New York City, for which Mayor LaGuardia made him Citizen of Honor of New York City, the highest distinction given out by the city.
Corm's close friend Said Akl noted: "Charles not only was a guiding force behind Lebanon’s independence, he also helped lay Lebanon’s constitutional foundations and spent his own money building the political, social and cultural landmarks needed to support our vision of Lebanon. During those years, it seemed very clear to me that Charles did not care much about money. Rather, a deep sense of commitment to what he loved had rewarded him with outstanding success in both business and literature."
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