Usama Ibn Munqidh's Lubab al-Adab (The Kernels of Refinement): Autobiographical and Historical Excerpts
Titel:
Usama Ibn Munqidh's Lubab al-Adab (The Kernels of Refinement): Autobiographical and Historical Excerpts
Auteur:
Cobb, Paul M.
Verschenen in:
Al-Masaq
Paginering:
Jaargang 18 (2006) nr. 1 pagina's 67-78
Jaar:
2006-03-01
Inhoud:
Usama ibn Munqidh (d. 584/1188) is best known for his “memoirs” entitled Kitab al-i'tibar, which provides a personal and detailed window into the world of an aristocratic Syrian Muslim in the period of the Crusades. But scholars have almost completely ignored a lesser-known work by Usama called Lubab al-adab or The Kernels of Refinement. This anthology consists mostly of poetic excerpts relating to adab, the ideal conduct of the male courtier, but, scattered throughout, it also contains a handful of narrative anecdotes about Usama and his times very much akin to the material found in his “memoirs”: tales of admirable behaviour, of encounters with the Franks, of Usama's family, and the daily life of the elites of his day. This article presents these narrative extracts translated into English for the first time, with commentary, and with the intention that The Kernels of Refinement will attract the attention it deserves from both Arabists and non-Arabists.
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