Abbasid Belles Lettres

by Julia Ashtiany, T. M. Johnstone, J. D. Latham, R. B. Serjeant

Overview

'Abbasid literature was characterized by the emergence of many new genres and of a scholarly and sophisticated critical consciousness. This volume of The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature covers the prose and poetry produced in the heartland and provinces of the 'Abbasid Empire from the mid-eighth to the thirteenth centuries A.D. Chronologically organized, the book explores the main genres and provides extended studies of major poets, prose writers and literary theorists. To make the material accessible to nonspecialist readers, 'Abbasid authors are quoted in English translation wherever possible, and clear explanations of their literary techniques and conventions are provided. The volume concludes with the first comprehensive survey of the relatively unknown literature of the Yemen to appear in a European language since the manuscript discoveries of recent years.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521240161
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/30/1990
Series:	The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature
Pages:	536
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.21(h) x 1.30(d)

Table of Contents

Editorial preface; Map: the Middle East; The 'Abbasid caliphate: a historical introduction H. N. Kennedy; 1. Adab and the concept of belles-lettres S. A. Bonebakker; 2. Shu'ubiyyah in Arabic literature H. T. Norris; 3. Ibn Al-Muqaffa' and early 'Abbasid prose J. D. Latham; 4. Al-Jahiz C. Pellat; 5. Al-Sahib Ibn 'Abbad C. Pellat; 6. Abu Hayyah al-Tawhidi M. Berge; 7. Al-Hamadhani, al-Hariri and the maqamat genre A. F. L. Beeston; 8. Fables and legends H. T. Norris; 9. 'Abbasid poetry and its antecedents M. M. Badawi; 10. Hunting poetry (tardiyyat) R. Smith; 11. Political poetry R. Rabinacci; 12. Love poetry (ghazal) A. Hamori; 13. Wine poetry (khamriyyat) F. Harb; 14. Mystical poetry M. Lings; 15. Ascetic poetry (zuhdiyyat) A. Hamori; 16. Bashshar b. Burd, Abu l-Atahiyah and Abu Nuwas G. Schoeler; 17. Al-Mutanabbi A. Hamori; 18. Abu Firas al-Hamdani A. El Tayib; 19. Abu l- Ala al-Ma'arri 'A'Isha 'Abd Al-Raham; 20. Literary criticism K. Abu Deeb; 21. Ibn al-Mu'tazz and Kitab al-Badi' S. A. Bonebakker; 22. Regional literature: Egypt S. M. Ayyad; 23. Regional literature: the Yemen A. El-Shami; Bibliographies; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"It is a most welcome addition to the extremely meager selection of books on the subject available in English...." Dimitri Gutas, JAAS

From the Publisher