The Adventures of Sayf Ben Dhi Yazan: An Arab Folk Epic (A Prota Book S.) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0253330343 ISBN 13: 9780253330345

Publisher: Indiana University Press, 1996

Synopsis

For contemporary readers, "The Adventures of Sayf Ben Dhi Yazan" offers unusual perspectives on issues of gender, religion, race, and ethnicity, as woven into the art of an oral narrative. Composed between the 13th and 16th centuries during the Mamluk age, this folk romance is still cherished by storytellers in the Middle East. Sayf Ben Dhi Yazan was an historical figure, a 6th century Arab king who ruled in Yemen before the rise of Islam. The fantastic tales of his trials and exploits are recounted in this epic. Colourful panoramas of heroic feats, magical escapades, bizarre landscapes and beings, brief or long-lasting love affairs, sincere friendships, demonic hatreds, supernatural forces, and dark spells propel this sira - an Arabic romance in the tradition of One Thousand and One Nights - within reach for Western audiences.

About this title

Review

"A charming and agreeable surprise ... A welcome gift to Western readers." --Kirkus Reviews "Editor Jayyusi offers a major example of the Arabic folk epics or romances called siras ... The siras are full of heroic adventures, exotic landscapes, love affairs, friendships, supernatural dangers, magical spells, and great Arab heroes..." --Library Journal "This text should find its place alongside the translations of other epic traditions of the world as a text well suited for use in university courses on the Middle East, world literature, epic, and folklore." Journal of Arabic Literature "... a saga that remains dramatically current, politically relevant, and eminently readable." Comparative Literature "Colourful panoramas of heroic feats, magical escapades, bizarre landscapes and beings, brief or long-lasting love affairs, sincere friendships all propel this Arab romance." Translation Review "The translation is enormously accomplished, a most successful attempt ... that captures the fabulous nature of the events recounted." Roger Allen

From the Back Cover

One of the most beautiful and fascinating medieval Arab-Islamic folk romances is presented in English for the first time. For contemporary readers, The Adventures of Sayf Ben Dhi Yazan offers unusual perspectives on issues of gender, religion, race, and ethnicity, as woven into the art of an oral narrative. Composed between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries during the Mamluk age, this folk romance is still cherished by storytellers in the Middle East. Sayf Ben Dhi Yazan was a historical figure, a sixth-century Arab king who ruled in Yemen before the rise of Islam. In the tale he is presented as a Muslim warrior; his exploits range across Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan, where his Muslim followers do battle with pagan peoples. Colorful panoramas of heroic feats, magical escapades, bizarre landscapes and beings, brief or long-lasting love affairs, sincere friendships, demonic hatreds, supernatural forces, and dark spells propel this sira - an Arabic romance in the grand tradition of The Thousand and One Nights.

About this edition

• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0253330343
• ISBN 13: 9780253330345
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336