CONTENTS
ENGLISH
Preface
Chapters IV
Translation
ARABIC
Introduction
Text of the Fadl
Editorial signs and abbreviations
Apparatus criticus
This collection of stories and poetry was inspired by a conversation
in 10th century Baghdad between the collector and a friend. Between
them they contemplate the declining moral standards of the human
race and sigh with nostalgia for 'the good old days', when one
could depend upon the loyalty and friendship of one's fellow beings.
Having promised such a collection to his friend, Ibn al-Marzuban
launches with enthusiasm into his task. Quotations of the famous
are followed by anecdotes and stories which in turn give way to
an apposite poem all either de-crying man for his evil ways
or illustrating the fine qualities displayed by his best friend,
the dog, viz, his loyalty, guarding instinct, consistency, intelligence
and his capabilities as a hunter.
The editors have made use of two previously printed texts of the
work, both based on a single manuscript, and to these they have
added three newly discovered manuscripts. From the whole a completely
new critical edition in Arabic has been produced. As well as
an English translation, there is an introduction in English with
an Arabic summary which, among other things, attempts to view
the collection within the general framework of Arabic adab
literature (belles-lettres) and to provide a survey of Muslim
attitudes to the dog throughout the ages.
The edition and translation is greatly enhanced by some fine sketches
and there are seven plates showing illustrations of dogs from
both Arabic and Persian medieval manuscripts.
G. Rex Smith was Professor of Arabic in the University of Manchester with numerous publications on the Yemen including The Ayyubids and Early Rasulids in the Yemen and The Manuscript of Al-Malik Al-Afdal al-'Abbas b. 'Ali b. Daud b. Yusuf b. 'Umar b. 'Ali Ibn Rasul A Medieval Arabic Anthology from the Yemen.
Parallel English / Arabic cloth 0 85668 090 7 $35 / £15
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CONTENTS
ARABIC |
SOME COMMENTS BY REVIEWERS
"Altogether this is a very rewarding work as literature,
as history and as a social document." RAS
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