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The Rise of the Arabic Book
The little-known story of the sophisticated and vibrant Arabic book culture that flourished during the Middle Ages.
During the thirteenth century, Europe’s largest library owned fewer than 2,000 volumes. Libraries in the Arab world at the time had exponentially larger collections. Five libraries in Baghdad alone held between 200,000 and 1,000,000 books each, including multiple copies of standard works so that their many patrons could enjoy simultaneous access.
How did the Arabic codex become so popular during the Middle Ages, even as the well-established form languished in Europe? Beatrice Gruendler’s The Rise of the Arabic Book answers this question through in-depth stories of bookmakers and book collectors, stationers and librarians, scholars and poets of the ninth century.
The history of the book has been written with an outsize focus on Europe. The role books played in shaping the great literary cultures of the world beyond the West has been less known―until now. An internationally renowned expert in classical Arabic literature, Gruendler corrects this oversight and takes us into the rich literary milieu of early Arabic letters.
During the thirteenth century, Europe’s largest library owned fewer than 2,000 volumes. Libraries in the Arab world at the time had exponentially larger collections. Five libraries in Baghdad alone held between 200,000 and 1,000,000 books each, including multiple copies of standard works so that their many patrons could enjoy simultaneous access.
How did the Arabic codex become so popular during the Middle Ages, even as the well-established form languished in Europe? Beatrice Gruendler’s The Rise of the Arabic Book answers this question through in-depth stories of bookmakers and book collectors, stationers and librarians, scholars and poets of the ninth century.
The history of the book has been written with an outsize focus on Europe. The role books played in shaping the great literary cultures of the world beyond the West has been less known―until now. An internationally renowned expert in classical Arabic literature, Gruendler corrects this oversight and takes us into the rich literary milieu of early Arabic letters.
- GenresHistory
272 pages, Hardcover
Published October 13, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 4, 2025
Gruendler, an esteemed scholar in classical Arabic literature, meticulously details how the Arabic codex gained prominence during a time when Europe’s literary culture was relatively stagnant. She highlights that while libraries in Europe were limited to a few thousand volumes, major libraries in Baghdad housed hundreds of thousands, showcasing the vibrant intellectual life of the Arab world at that time.
The book is organized into four main chapters: Scholars, Poets, Stationers, and Book Owners and Readers. This structure allows Gruendler to trace the evolution of the Arabic book from a tool supporting oral traditions to a standalone medium with its own cultural significance. Through engaging anecdotes and historical narratives, she brings to life the figures behind this literary revolution, including bookmakers, librarians, and scholars.
Gruendler's work is particularly notable for its effort to recenter Arabic book culture within the global narrative of literary history. By emphasizing the independent development of this culture outside Western influences, she challenges prevailing narratives that often prioritize European achievements in book production. Her scholarship not only serves academics and students of Arabic literature but also appeals to a broader audience interested in global literary traditions.
The book could be seen as essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the book and its role in shaping cultures worldwide. Beatrice Gruendler's The Rise of the Arabic Book stands as a pivotal text that not only enriches our understanding of Arabic literary history but also invites further exploration into the dynamics of book culture across different civilizations.
The book is organized into four main chapters: Scholars, Poets, Stationers, and Book Owners and Readers. This structure allows Gruendler to trace the evolution of the Arabic book from a tool supporting oral traditions to a standalone medium with its own cultural significance. Through engaging anecdotes and historical narratives, she brings to life the figures behind this literary revolution, including bookmakers, librarians, and scholars.
Gruendler's work is particularly notable for its effort to recenter Arabic book culture within the global narrative of literary history. By emphasizing the independent development of this culture outside Western influences, she challenges prevailing narratives that often prioritize European achievements in book production. Her scholarship not only serves academics and students of Arabic literature but also appeals to a broader audience interested in global literary traditions.
The book could be seen as essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the book and its role in shaping cultures worldwide. Beatrice Gruendler's The Rise of the Arabic Book stands as a pivotal text that not only enriches our understanding of Arabic literary history but also invites further exploration into the dynamics of book culture across different civilizations.
December 21, 2022
عنوان رائع.. وترجمة جيدة... لولا مسألة وضع الهوامش في نهاية الكتاب... وتقديم التأريخ الميلادي على التأريخ الهجري بالنسبة للقارئ العربي لتلك الحقبة.
تناولت الكاتبة قصة الكتاب... لكن من خلال دراسة شرائح ذوي الاختصاص... رغم أن الكتاب كان سيكون أفضل لو تم النظر إليه من جانب تأريخي... سلكت الكاتبة الضوء على حرفة الوراقة... وعلاقة الكتاب بالعلماء والشعراء والقراء ومالكي الكتب... بدأت بقصة الأصمعي مع أبي عبيدة... الأول يُعارض صناعة الكتاب، والآخر يُؤيدها... بداية موفقة للكتاب... لكن المعلومات ربما شحيحة، فيما يتعلق بموضوع الكتاب... كون الكاتبة أخذت معلوماتها من كتب التراجم، وبالأخص كتاب شمس الإسلام للذهبي.
تناولت الكاتبة قصة الكتاب... لكن من خلال دراسة شرائح ذوي الاختصاص... رغم أن الكتاب كان سيكون أفضل لو تم النظر إليه من جانب تأريخي... سلكت الكاتبة الضوء على حرفة الوراقة... وعلاقة الكتاب بالعلماء والشعراء والقراء ومالكي الكتب... بدأت بقصة الأصمعي مع أبي عبيدة... الأول يُعارض صناعة الكتاب، والآخر يُؤيدها... بداية موفقة للكتاب... لكن المعلومات ربما شحيحة، فيما يتعلق بموضوع الكتاب... كون الكاتبة أخذت معلوماتها من كتب التراجم، وبالأخص كتاب شمس الإسلام للذهبي.
November 5, 2023
كيف أصبحت المخطوطة العربية شائعة جداً خلال العصور الوسطى، حتى مع ضعف الشكل الراسخ في أوروبا؟
تجيب الكاتبة على هذا السؤال من خلال تسليط الضوء على حرفة الورّاقة.. وقصص جامعي الكتب.. والقرطاسية.. وأمناء المكتبات.. والعلماء والشعراء والقراء منذ منتصف القرن الثاني الهجري مع التركيز الكبير على أوروبا، والدور الذي لعبته الكتب في تشكيل الثقافات الأدبية العظيمة في العالم من خلال دراسة شرائح ذوي الاختصاص.
تجيب الكاتبة على هذا السؤال من خلال تسليط الضوء على حرفة الورّاقة.. وقصص جامعي الكتب.. والقرطاسية.. وأمناء المكتبات.. والعلماء والشعراء والقراء منذ منتصف القرن الثاني الهجري مع التركيز الكبير على أوروبا، والدور الذي لعبته الكتب في تشكيل الثقافات الأدبية العظيمة في العالم من خلال دراسة شرائح ذوي الاختصاص.
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June 18, 2024مازلت في أغلب الكتب التي قرأتها لدار معنى أنبهر ابتداءاً بالمجهود المبذول وأختيار المواضيع وانتهاءاً بأغلفه الكتب.. الا انني لا استمتع بالقراءة لا ادري اذا كان السبب الترجمة او ترتيب النص المكتوب.. هناك شيء يُفسد متعة القراءة حين اقرأ منشوراتهم.
February 8, 2026
ترجمة باردة لكتاب قليل الفائدة، قد كان غرني الثناء عليه، لكن الناس كثيرا ما يتتايعون على المدح والذم دون معالجة.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews