Kurban Said is the pen name of an Azerbaijani author, best known for his novel Ali and Nino. Born in 1905 in Baku, Azerbaijan, he wrote in both Azerbaijani and Russian. His works often explore themes of love, cultural identity, and the clash between East and West. The novel Ali and Nino, published in 1937, tells the story of a romantic relationship between a Muslim boy, Ali, and a Christian girl, Nino, set against the backdrop of the tumultuous events in the Caucasus during World War I. The book has gained international acclaim and is considered a classic of Azerbaijani literature.