Night & Horses & the Desert: An Anthology of Classical Arabic Literature - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0385721552 ISBN 13: 9780385721554

Publisher: Anchor, 2002

Synopsis

Spanning the fifth to sixteenth centuries and societies that range from Afghanistan to Spain, this anthology is a testament to the astonishing grandeur and variety of classical Arabic literature. Here are excerpts from dozens of works–both renowned (The Qur’an, The Thousand and One Nights) and esoteric (Ibn Washshiyya’s “Book of Poisons”; a 10th-century poem in praise of asparagus)–all accompanied by Robert Irwin’s erudite commentaries that illuminate readers on the vanished world in which they were written.

In Night & Horses & the Desert we encounter the dashing Byronic poetry of Imru’ al-Qays and a treatise on bibliomania by Al-Jahiz, possibly the only writer to have been killed by books. There’s a sorcerer’s manual from 11th century Spain and an allegory by the mysterious “Brethren of Purity,” in which animals argue their case against humanity. Encompassing piety and profanity, fables and philosophy, this volume is a thrilling and invaluabe introduction to one of the world’s great bodies of literature.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

“A joy to read.... This book is a journey through 11 centuries of a lost world, with a surprise on almost every page.”–Financial Times 

“[A] treasure-house of a book.... Unequaled for scholarship and entertainment.”–The Independent (London)

“Outstanding.... No other single-volume anthology provides such extensive coverage.”–Library Journal

“Superb. . . . A revelation, an appealing anthology.” –Michael Dirda, The Washington Post

About the Author:

Robert Irwin has taught Arabic and Medieval History at Oxford, Cambridge, and the University of St. Andrews. He is the author of The Arabian Nights: A Companion as well as six novels. He lives in London.

About this edition

• Publisher: Anchor
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0385721552
• ISBN 13: 9780385721554
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 480
• Editor: Irwin Robert