Abbasid Belles Lettres

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

• ISBN13: 9780521088657
• ISBN10: 0521088658
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-10-30
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This volume of The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature covers artistic prose and poetry produced in the heartland and provinces of the 'Abbasid empire during the second great period of Arabic literature, from the mid-eighth to the thirteenth centuries AD. 'Abbasid literature was characterised by the emergence of many new genres and of a scholarly and sophisticated critical consciousness. This volume deals chronologically with the main genres and provides extended studies of major poets, prose-writers and literary theorists. It concludes with a comprehensive survey of the relatively unknown literature of the Yemen to appear in a European language since the manuscript discoveries of recent years. To make the material accessible to non-specialist readers, 'Abbasid authors are quoted in English translation wherever possible, and clear explanations of their literary techniques and conventions are provided. With chapters by leading specialists from the Middle East, Europe and America, the volume represents a wide cross-section of current academic opinion.

Table of Contents

Editorial preface

Map: the Middle East

The 'Abbasid caliphate: a historical

Introduction

Adab and the concept of belles-lettres

Shu'ubiyyah in Arabic literature

Ibn Al-Muqaffa' and early 'Abbasid prose

Al-Jahiz C. Pellat

Al-Sahib Ibn 'Abbad

Abu Hayyah al-Tawhidi

Al-Hamadhani, al-Hariri and the maqamat genre

Fables and legends

'Abbasid poetry and its antecedents

Hunting poetry (tardiyyat)

Political poetry

Love poetry (ghazal)

Wine poetry (khamriyyat)

Mystical poetry

Ascetic poetry (zuhdiyyat)

Bashshar b. Burd, Abu l-Atahiyah and Abu

Al-Mutanabbi

Abu Firas al-Hamdani

Abu l- Ala al-Ma'arri 'A'Isha 'Abd

Literary criticism

Ibn al-Mu'tazz and Kitab al-Badi'

Regional literature: Egypt

Regional literature: the Yemen

Bibliographies

Index

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