Question: Who was born first, Naguib Mahfouz or Ilya Ehrenburg?
Context: The Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature is a literary award for Arabic literature.  It is given to the best contemporary novel written in Arabic, but not available in English translation.  The winning book is then translated into English, and published by American University in Cairo Press.  It was first awarded in 1996 and is presented annually on December 11, the birthday of Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz, by the President of the American University in Cairo. The Beginning and the End (بداية ونهاية) is a novel by Naguib Mahfouz, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1988.  An Egyptian, Naguib has been credited with modernizing Arabic literature, with his prolific writing style and his themes on existentialism.  The novel is marked by very bold characterization by Naguib Mahfouz, for the time period that the story is set in.  The story moves at a prolific pace and tries to look at the world from each characters view point. Palace of Desire (Arabic title: قصر الشوق ) is a novel by Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz, and the second installment of Mahfouz's "Cairo Trilogy".  It was originally published in Arabic in 1957 with the title "Qasr el-Shōq". The Thaw (Russian: Оттепель , Ottepel) is a short novel by Ilya Ehrenburg first published in the spring 1954 issue of "Novy Mir".  It coined the name for the Khrushchev Thaw, the period of liberalization following the 1953 death of Stalin.  The novel marked a break both from Ehrenburg's earlier purely pro-Soviet work, and from previous ideas about socialist realism. Naguib Mahfouz (Arabic: نجيب محفوظ‎ ‎ "Nagīb Maḥfūẓ ", ] ; December 11, 1911 – August 30, 2006) was an Egyptian writer who won the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature.  He is regarded as one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature, along with Tawfiq el-Hakim, to explore themes of existentialism.  He published 34 novels, over 350 short stories, dozens of movie scripts, and five plays over a 70-year career.  Many of his works have been made into Egyptian and foreign films. Palace Walk (Arabic title بين القصرين) is a novel by Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz, and the first installment of Mahfouz's "Cairo Trilogy".  Originally published in 1956 with the title "Bayn al-qasrayn" (lit.  "Between the Two Palaces"), the book was translated into English in 1990.  The setting of the novel is Cairo during and just after World War I. Rhadopis of Nubia is an early novel by the Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz.  It was originally published in Arabic in 1943.  An English translation by Anthony Calderbank appeared in 2003 published by American University in Cairo Press.  The novel is one of several that Mahfouz wrote at the beginning of his career, with Pharaonic Egypt as their setting.  Others in this series of novels include "Khufu's Wisdom" (1939) and "Thebes at War" (1944).  All have been translated into English and appeared in one volume under the title "Three Novels of Ancient Egypt" (Everyman's Library, 2007). Khufu's Wisdom is an early novel by the Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz.  It was originally published in Arabic in 1939 under the name Mockery of the Fates.  An English translation by Raymond Stock appeared in 2003.  The novel is one of several that Mahfouz wrote at the beginning of his career, with Pharaonic Egypt as their setting.  Others in this series of novels include "Rhadopis of Nubia" (1943) and "Thebes at War" (1944).  All have been translated into English and appeared in one volume under the title "Three Novels of Ancient Egypt" (Everyman's Library, 2007). Thebes at War is an early novel by the Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz.  It was originally published in Arabic in 1944.  An English translation by Humphrey Davies appeared in 2003.  The novel is one of several that Mahfouz wrote at the beginning of his career, with Pharaonic Egypt as their setting.  Others in this series of novels include "Khufu's Wisdom" (1939) and "Rhadopis of Nubia" (1943).  All have been translated into English and appeared in one volume under the title "Three Novels of Ancient Egypt" (Everyman's Library, 2007). Ilya Grigoryevich Ehrenburg (Russian: Илья́ Григо́рьевич Эренбу́рг , ] ; 27 January [O.S. 15 January] 1891 – 31 August 1967) was a Soviet writer, journalist, translator, and cultural figure.
Answer: Ilya Grigoryevich Ehrenburg