of a Commentator: ā ā and the Rhetoric of Muslim

Abstract

Arabic edition is “199” (p. 14); “Iraquis” (p. 22); and the adverbial “sometimes” for the adjectival “sometime” (p. 54). Overall, however, the aim of an accessible and faithful introduction to this important figure is admirably accomplished. The inclusion of historically interesting poets like Ibn Ḥamdīs in the series is very welcome. The field of premodern Arabic literary studies has a long way to go to properly historicize premodern aesthetic projects and ideologies and Ibn Hamdis brings us closer to that goal, especially as both specialists from adjacent fields as well as interested readers without a deep background in the period, now have a quick read that offers significant insight into a unique figure in Arabic literary history.