Islam in Britain, 1558–1685

Examines the impact of Islam on Britain from the accession of Elizabeth to the death of Charles II.

Nabil Matar (Author)

9780521048972, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 7 January 2008

240 pages
23 x 15.3 x 1.5 cm, 0.366 kg

'I recommend you beg, borrow or steal a copy of this book, not just for yourself to read, but to send to anyone whose anti-Turkish prejudices overcome their intelligence.' David Carter, Cyprus Today

This book examines the impact of Islam on Britain between 1558 and 1685. Professor Matar provides a perspective on the transformation of British thought and society by demonstrating how influential Islam was in the formation of early modern British culture. Christian-Muslim interaction was not, as is often thought, primarily adversarial; rather, there was extensive cultural, intellectual and missionary engagement with Islam in Britain. The author documents conversion both to and from Islam, and surveys reactions to these conversions. He examines the impact of the Qur'an and Sufism, not to mention coffee, on British culture, and cites extensive interaction of Britons with Islam through travel, in London coffee houses, in church, among converts to and from Islam, in sermons and in plays. Finally, he focuses on the theological portrait of Muslims in conversionist and eschatological writings.

Acknowledgements
Transcription
Introduction: Islam in early modern Britain
1. 'Turning Turke': conversion to Islam in English writings
2. The renegade on stage and in church
3. 'Arabia Britannica': 'Alcoran' and the legacy of Arabic Islam
4. 'Baptising the Turk': conversion to Christianity in English writings
5. Eschatology and the Saracens
Conclusion: Islam and Britain: centripetal to centrifugal
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Islam [HRH]