Abbasid Belles Lettres [Paperback]

This volume covers artistic prose and poetry produced in the 'Abbasid empire from the mid-eighth to the thirteenth centuries AD.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.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 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.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.l0