'Abbasid Belles Lettres

This volume covers artistic prose and poetry produced in the 'Abbasid empire from the mid-eighth to the thirteenth centuries AD.

This volume of The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature covers artistic prose and poetry produced in the heartland and provinces of the 'Abbasid empire during the second great period of Arabic literature, from the mid-eighth to the thirteenth centuries AD. 'Abbasid literature was characterised by the emergence of many new genres and of a scholarly and sophisticated critical consciousness. This volume deals chronologically with the main genres and provides extended studies of major poets, prose-writers and literary theorists. It concludes with a comprehensive survey of the relatively unknown literature of the Yemen to appear in a European language since the manuscript discoveries of recent years. To make the material accessible to non-specialist readers, 'Abbasid authors are quoted in English translation wherever possible, and clear explanations of their literary techniques and conventions are provided. With chapters by leading specialists from the Middle East, Europe and America, the volume represents a wide cross-section of current academic opinion.

Editorial preface
Map: the Middle East
The 'Abbasid caliphate: a historical introduction H. N. Kennedy
1. Adab and the concept of belles-lettres S. A. Bonebakker
2. Shu'ubiyyah in Arabic literature H. T. Norris
3. Ibn Al-Muqaffa' and early 'Abbasid prose J. D. Latham
4. Al-Jahiz C. Pellat
5. Al-Sahib Ibn 'Abbad C. Pellat

6. Abu Hayyah al-Tawhidi M. Berge
7. Al-Hamadhani, al-Hariri and the maqamat genre A. F. L. Beeston
8. Fables and legends H. T. Norris
9. 'Abbasid poetry and its antecedents M. M. Badawi
10. Hunting poetry (tardiyyat) R. Smith
11. Political poetry R. Rabinacci
12. Love poetry (ghazal) A. Hamori
13. Wine poetry (khamriyyat) F. Harb
14. Mystical poetry M. Lings
15. Ascetic poetry (zuhdiyyat) A. Hamori
16. Bashshar b. Burd, Abu l-Atahiyah and Abu Nuwas G. Schoeler
17. Al-Mutanabbi A. Hamori
18. Abu Firas al-Hamdani A. El Tayib
19. Abu l- Ala al-Ma'arri 'A'Isha 'Abd Al-Raham
20. Literary criticism K. Abu Deeb
21. Ibn al-Mu'tazz and Kitab al-Badi' S. A. Bonebakker
22. Regional literature: Egypt S. M. Ayyad
23. Regional literature: the Yemen A. El-Shami
Bibliographies
Index.