Arabic Authors

Arbuthnot, F. F., 1833-1901Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 355K words
Chapters: 36

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Arabic Authors by F. F. ArbuthnotAuthor: Arbuthnot, F. F., 1833-1901,Language: English, Class: PJ: Language and Literatures: Oriental languages and literatures, Release Date: Nov 24, 2006

Editor's review

This is an English-language work on Arabic authors by the nineteenth-century British Orientalist Arbuthnot, falling under Oriental language and literature within the language and literature category. As a free Project Gutenberg ebook, it gives readers zero-cost access to early Western scholarship's organization and assessment of the Arabic literary tradition. The book helps readers understand how European scholars of the time understood and retold Arabic writers and their works, and has some reference value for studying the history of East-West cultural exchange and the westward transmission of Arabic literature. Read it as a primary document rather than a modern standard textbook: its views and selection of material bear the marks of the nineteenth century and should be used alongside modern research on Arabic literature. It suits supplementary academic research, background reading in comparative literature, or as an entry point for English readers curious about the early face of Orientalism. Since the original is in English and fairly specialized, casual readers may find the pace slow.

Who it's for

A good fit for

University teachers and students studying the westward transmission of Arabic literature and the history of Orientalist scholarship
Readers approaching nineteenth-century commentary on Arabic authors through English
Researchers in comparative literature and cultural exchange history gathering materials
Enthusiasts interested in the early Western study of Arabic literature

Not a good fit for

Beginners seeking a systematic modern history of Arabic literature
Casual readers who prefer contemporary novels, poetry, and other literary works
Readers with limited English who are unwilling to use reference tools

Reading tips

Read the contents and introduction first to clarify the author's scope and mode of commentary, then decide which chapters to read closely.
Read alongside a modern history of Arabic literature, noting the limitations of nineteenth-century views.
Take excerpt-style notes by author or theme for later academic citation and verification.
Read the English original slowly with a dictionary and glossary, focusing on the lines of transmission rather than word-by-word meaning.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable as an introductory textbook to Arabic literature?

Not really. It is an English-language work by the nineteenth-century scholar Arbuthnot, reflecting the organization and commentary of Western scholarship at the time; its views and selection of material carry period limitations. It is better as supplementary research material than a modern systematic introduction. Beginners should read a contemporary general history of Arabic literature first, then return to this book.

What language level is needed to read this book?

The original is in English and is a free Project Gutenberg ebook. It deals with Arabic authors and literary works and contains many technical terms and proper names. A moderate or better command of English is advisable, with a dictionary or reference tools at hand to understand names of people, titles, and academic phrasing.

Does the book cover modern Arabic writers?

According to the source, the author died in 1901 and the book was written during his lifetime, so its subjects are naturally Arabic authors of his time and earlier; it is unlikely to cover modern writers from the twentieth century onward. For modern and contemporary Arabic literature, supplement with literary histories and studies covering the relevant period.

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About the author

Arbuthnot, F. F., 1833-1901 Author

F. F. Arbuthnot (1833–1901) was the author of Arabic Authors. Public information about his life is limited; his nationality, education, and professional career are not clearly recorded. Judging from the surviving work, he was concerned with Arabic literature and authorship, and Arabic Authors is devoted to Arab writers and their works, belonging to introductory and compilatory literature. Writing of this kind generally traces figures and their writings so that English-speaking readers may gain access to the Arabic literary and scholarly tradition. As only one of his works is held in this collection, it is difficult to assess his overall style and influence; he may be regarded as one of the nineteenth-century English-language authors who organized and introduced the Arabic tradition of authorship.