A Literary History of the Arabs

For sixty years, the best account in English of Arab literature has been, by universal consent, this book; its supremacy will long remain unchallenged.

Reynold A. Nicholson (Author)

9780521095723, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 May 1969

538 pages
21.6 x 14 x 3 cm, 0.68 kg

The Arabs during a thousand years or more produced one of the richest and most extensive literatures of the world, embracing fine poetry (of the fierce desert life equally with the sophistication of royal courts), belles lettres (learned essays, satires, de arte amoris), religious, mystical and philosophical writings, and huge compendia of history, biography and geography. For sixty years, the best account in English of this vast output has been, by universal consent, R. A. Nicholson's Literary History of the Arabs; its supremacy will long remain unchallenged. That it is a book full of erudition and high critical judgement goes without saying; its author is also a poet-translator of rare excellence.

Preface
Introduction
1. Saba and Himyar
2. The history and legends of the Pagan Arabs
3. Pre-Islamic poetry, manners, and religion
4. The prophet and the Koran
5. The Orthodox Caliphate and the Umattay Dynasty
6. The Caliphs of Baghdád
7. Poetry, literature, and science in the 'Abbásid period
8. Orthodoxy, free-thought, and mysticism
9. The Arabs in Europe
10. From the Mongol invasion to the present day
Appendix
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Educational: English language & literacy [YQC]