On the Art of Medieval Arabic Literature

This book offers a critical examination of medieval Arabic literature, focusing on its unique themes and compositional techniques. On the Art of Medieval Arabic Literature provides a comprehensive analysis.

In On the Art of Medieval Arabic Literature, Andras Hamori applies modern literary criticism to medieval Arabic texts, focusing on elements that may seem foreign to contemporary Western readers. He explores the limitations of themes, the reliance on conventions, and the intricate patterns of composition that characterize this rich literary tradition. The book's first section offers a historical lens, examining the evolution of poetic genres and the changing attitudes toward time and society from the sixth to the tenth centuries.

Hamori delves into the technical aspects of poetry, highlighting the significance of poetic unity and the role of conventions in shaping the literature. This analysis provides valuable insights into how the poets of the time navigated their creative expressions within the constraints of their cultural and artistic norms. The third part of the book shifts focus to prose, analyzing the structure and composition of two tales from the Arabian Nights, revealing the complexities of order and disorder in storytelling.

Originally published in 1974, On the Art of Medieval Arabic Literature is now made accessible again through the Princeton Legacy Library. This initiative employs modern print-on-demand technology to revive essential scholarly works, ensuring that the original texts are preserved in both paperback and hardcover formats. The aim of the library is to broaden access to the invaluable scholarly resources published by Princeton University Press since its inception in 1905.