Description
Book SynopsisIn Narratives of Kingship in Eurasian Empires, 1300-1800 Richard van Leeuwen analyses representations and constructions of the idea of kingship in fictional texts of various genres, especially belonging to the intermediate layer between popular and official literature. The analysis shows how ideologies of power are embedded in the literary and cultural imagination of societies, their cultural values and conceptualizations of authority. By referring to examples from various empires (Chinese, Indian, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, European) the parallels between literary traditions are laid bare, revealing remarkable common concerns. The process of interaction and transmission are highlighted to illustrate how literature served as a repository for ideological and cultural values transforming power into authority in various imperial environments.
Trade Review“The author analyzes (and provides helpful summaries of) the narratives to describe, among other themes, common literary emphases on the links between the morality of kings and ministers and the health of their dynasties and societies; between the authority of kings and supernatural forces; between rulership, esoteric knowledge, and concepts of cosmic and social harmony; and between gender relationships and the coherence of polity and community. –Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students/faculty.” Mark Soderstrom, Aurora University. In: Choice, Vol. 55, No. 8 (April 2018). “Van Leeuwen’s book draws our attention to tantalising possibilities in the broad comparative analysis of literary genres nearly always locked up inside specialists’ cabinets, opening a door through which other scholars will surely want to follow.” Alan Strathern, Brasenose College, Oxford. In: The English Historical Review, Vol. 134, No. 570 (October 2019), pp. 1301–1304. “An unparalleled study […] Scholars interested in Thousand and One Nights will appreciate the insights that Narratives of Kingship offers, noting the possibilities for further research in the area of the multiple genres of the narrative.” Jessica K. Zeitler, Pima Community College. In: Sixteenth Century Journal, Vol. 50, No. 2 (Summer 2019), pp. 568–570.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Figures Introduction The Thousand and One Nights and Processes of Transmission Source Material 1 Kings, Viziers, Concubines The Cycle of the ‘Seven Viziers’/ ‘Seven Sages of Rome’ and Its Cognates Variations: The Story of ‘Jaliʾad of Hind and His Vizier Shimas’ King Wu’s Expedition against Zhou and Proclaiming Harmony Concluding Remarks 2 Gods, Demons, and Kings The Prince and the Demons of Evil: The Legendary Vikramaditya The Thirty-Two Steps of the Throne Harun al-Rashid, Vizier Jaʾfar, and the Jinns Harun al-Rashid and the Discourse of Power Fighting the Evil Spirit: The Creation of the Gods Concluding Remarks 3 Divine Insights, Cosmic Harmony The Cycle of the ‘Queen of the Serpents’ King and Cosmos: The Sorcerer’s Revolt Jan Potòcki’s Manuscrit Trouvé à Saragosse Concluding Remarks 4 The Knight and the King Tirant lo Blanc: The Ideal Knight The Harbinger of the Faith: Amir Hamza The Emperor and the Barbarians: The Exploits of Yue Fei Hang Tuah, the Malay Hero The ‘Foreign’ Sultan: Al-Zahir Baybars The Muslims against the Byzantines: Sayyid Battal Concluding Remarks 5 Kingship and Love The Prince and the Mysteries of Love The Story of ‘Mirigavati’ Sufis and Solomon The Enchantment of Love: European Fantasies of Kingship and Love Concluding Remarks 6 Unrequested Advice The Frustrated Official: Mustafa Ali of Gallipoli Against the Old Order: Huang Zongxi and Hung Sheng European and Oriental Despots: Montesquieu and Diderot A Modern Mirror-for-Princes: Christoph Martin Wieland’s Der Goldene Spiegel The Official and His Empress: Alexander Radischev and Catherine II Concluding Remarks Conclusion Bibliography Index
