Résumé:
The specification of Algerian short story in the reformist movement: example of Said EZZAHIRI. The Algerian short story in Arabic appeared at the early twenties of the last century as a reform movement feature. It was mainly used as a mean to raise national awareness among people, and to fight against ignorance, illiteracy, quackery and superstition. It was also a mean to thwart the action of Christian missionaries towards Algerian people (mostly Muslims) and the propaganda of a few Algerian intellectuals who tried to apply an alien misleading modernity to the country. Born at the same time as the religious reform movement conducted by sheikh Ben-Badis, the Algerian short story in Arabic acquired the specific aspects of the newborn movement and prepared the boom of a national consciousness among people. The authors of such enterprise were men who graduated from Zitouna (Tunis), Qaraouiyine (Fes) or Al-Azhar(Cairo). They acted mainly as teachers in Koranic schools, preachers in mosques, or journalists. Said Ezzahiri (1899-1956) who was poet and journalist, was the most prominent figure and the pioneer of this reform movement. He was the sole link between the Arab East and West and the only person who approached the major issues of the Maghreb. He was the first author of short stories in Algeria, and the first who realized the first collection of short stories in 1928. With the use of the easy language and the Koran style, he gave the Algerian short story its special cachet. His literary influence still appears on contemporary short story authors.
