History and Memory in the Abbasid Caliphate
Author | : Letizia Osti |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 304 |
Release | : |
ISBN-10 | : 1838600558 |
ISBN-13 | : 9781838600556 |
Rating | : 4/5 (58 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: "Abu Bakr al-Suli was a noted polymath and table companion in the courts of three Abbasid caliphs. In addition to his work as observer of the court, he is perhaps best known for his poetry - which would have a long-lasting influence on Arabic literature - historiographical insight and skill as a chess player. Letizia Osti here provides the first full-length English-language study devoted to al-Suli. In so doing, she sheds light onto broader questions, such as: How did the Abbasid court make sense of the past? What was the importance of written culture? And book collecting? What does 'historiography' mean in a medieval Islamic context?"--