The Epistle of Forgiveness: Volume One: A Vision of Heaven and Hell
Abu L-?Ala? Al-Ma?Arri
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Description for The Epistle of Forgiveness: Volume One: A Vision of Heaven and Hell
Hardback. The first complete translation in any language, retaining the many digressions, difficult passages, and convoluted grammatical discussions of the original Editor(s): Gelder, G. J. H. van. Series: Library of Arabic Literature. Num Pages: 464 pages, black & white illustrations. BIC Classification: DN. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational. Dimension: 160 x 231 x 29. Weight in Grams: 760.
One of the most unusual books in classical Arabic literature, The Epistle of Forgiveness is the lengthy reply by the prolific Syrian poet and prose writer Abu l-'Ala' al-Ma'arri (d. 449/1057), to a letter written by an obscure grammarian, Ibn al-Qarih. With biting irony, The Epistle of Forgiveness mocks Ibn al-Qarih's hypocrisy and sycophancy by imagining he has died and arrived with some difficulty in Heaven, where he meets famous poets and philologists from the past. He also glimpses Hell, and converses with the Devil and various heretics. Al-Ma'arri—a maverick, a vegan, and often branded a heretic himself—seems to mock ... Read more
Show LessProduct Details
Format
Hardback
Publication date
2013
Publisher
New York University Press United States
Number of pages
464
Condition
New
Series
Library of Arabic Literature
Number of Pages
464
Place of Publication
New York, United States
ISBN
9780814763780
SKU
V9780814763780
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 7 to 11 working days
Ref
99-1
About Abu L-?Ala? Al-Ma?Arri
Abū l-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī (Author) Abū l-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī (363-449/973-1058) was a major poet and prose writer of the late Abbasid period. Born near Aleppo, Syria, he lost his eyesight in childhood and was renowned for his asceticism. Geert Jan van Gelder (Edited and Translated by) Geert Jan van Gelder was Laudian Professor of Arabic ... Read more
Reviews for The Epistle of Forgiveness: Volume One: A Vision of Heaven and Hell
Van Gelder and Schoeler present one of the most complex and unusual texts in Arabic literature, by al-Ma'arri (d. 1057 AD), maverick, poet and vegetarian.
Banipal Magazine
While casual readers can pick up The Epistle of Forgiveness and enjoy a few pages of ancient satire and puns, more academic readers of eschatological literature and Arabic linguistics will appreciate ... Read more
Banipal Magazine
While casual readers can pick up The Epistle of Forgiveness and enjoy a few pages of ancient satire and puns, more academic readers of eschatological literature and Arabic linguistics will appreciate ... Read more