'This is a fascinating and original study on so many levels. The core of the book is a comprehensive and original examination of the influence,direct and indirect on Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe of a twelfth-century philosophicalwork in Arabic. For most contemporary Western readers,this will be their first acquaintance with Muslim philosopher Ibn Tufayl and his tale Hayy Bin Yaqzan,the story ... Read moreof a child,who,growing up alone on a desert island, discovers for himself major philosophical truths,but Mahmoud Baroud quickly makes us aware that many Europeans in the seventeenth century and early eighteenth century,almost certainly including Defoe,were very familiar with this and other "Oriental tales". Based on rigorous,original research,this book is elegantly structured and written. It is a valuable reminder that western culture has,in so many different periods,drawn respectfully and profitably on elements of Arab philosophy,medicine and the physical sciences.' Michael Hanne, Associate Professor, Comparative Literature Program, School of European Languages and Literatures, University of Auckland Show Less