Shwe U Daung


Shwe U Daung was a Burmese writer, translator and editor. He is known for creating the character "Detective U San Shar", who could be considered the Burmese equivalent of Sherlock Holmes. He received many awards including the Sarpay Beikman awards.

Biography and career

Shwe U Daung, also known by his birth-name as U Pe Thein, was born on the 24th of October 1889 in the Shwebo District of Myanmar. His father U Ayar, was a British citizen and his mother's name was Daw Shwe. He was the third of five siblings. Shwe attended the Buddhist School in Mandalay and later transferred to the Monastery of Mandalay and ABM school. 1908, after passing the entrance exam at the University of Kolkata, he worked as a teacher at the Mandalay Buddhist school and the ABM school. On the 8th of November 1915, his first novel Yan Gyi Aung was published. His second novel Yadanapon, which was written by the request of Thura U Ba Bay, was inspired by Ellen Wood's novel East Lynne. Having published two novels, Shwe U Daung became the editor of Thuriya magazine. It was at this time that he was given the pen name Shwe U Dwung. While working as an editor in Thuriya, Shwe U Daung collaborated with a friend and jointly published the first issue of Myanmar Strategic Journal. In 1920, he left the Thuriya magazine.
Shwe U Daung died on August 10th, 1973.

Published books