Description
Book SynopsisUnveils a fresh perspective on power relations in eleventh- and twelfth-century Muslim Spain as reflected in historical and literary texts of the period. Employing the methods of the historical literary study in looking at a range of texts, this title reveals the paradoxical relations between the Andalusi Muslim and Jewish elites in this era.
Trade Review"A substantial contribution to our knowledge of inter-faith and inter-cultural relations... Few authors could achieve what [Brann] has done in such an economical [way]."--Cynthia Robinson, Near Eastern Studies "A substantial and methodologically innovative contribution to our knowledge of inter-faith and inter-cultural relations, both in al-Andalus and in the medieval world at large... Few authors could achieve what [Brann] has achieved and broaden the scope of a field of inquiry to the extent that he has done in such an economical [fashion]."--Cynthia Robinson, The Medieval Review "Brann negotiates the boundary between literary and historical studies with considerable finesse and graceful erudition."--Mark D. Meyerson, American Historical Review "Brann's book is elegantly written, scholarly in drawing on previous studies, yet original in its insights. The author makes his case that medieval Jews and Muslims in al-Andalus admired, scorned, deplored, and were envious of each other in varying measure and that each group's representation of the Other teaches us less about that other than about itself."--Consuelo Lopez-Morillas, Speculum
Table of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix ABBREVIATIONS xi INTRODUCTION: Power in the Portrayal 1 CHAPTER ONE: Force of Character 24 CHAPTER TWO: An Andalusi-Muslim Literary Typology of Jewish Heresy and Sedition 54 CHAPTER THREE: Textualizing Ambivalence 91 CHAPTER FOUR: Muslim Counterparts, Rivals, Mentors, and Foes--A Trope of Andalusi-Jewish Identity? 119 CHAPTER FIVE: The Silence of the Jews 140 BIBLIOGRAPHY 161 INDEX 185
