Theocrat: A Modern Arabic Novel (Electronic book text)


The Theocrat takes as its subject one of Arab and Islamic historys most perplexing figures, al-Hakim bi-Amr Illah (the ruler by order of God), the Fatimid caliph who ruled Egypt during the tenth century and whose career was a direct reflection of both the tensions within the Islamic dominions as a whole and of the conflicts within his own mind. In this remarkable novel Bensalem Himmich explores these tensions and conflicts and their disastrous consequences on an individual ruler and on his people. Himmich does not spare his readers the full horror and tragedy of al-Hakims reign, but in employing a variety of textual stylesincluding quotations from some of the best known medieval Arab historians; vivid historical narratives; a series of extraordinary decrees issued by the caliph; and, most remarkably, the inspirational utterances of al-Hakim during his ecstatic visions, recorded by his devotees and subsequently a basis for the foundation of the Druze communityhe succeeds brilliantly in painting a portrait of a character whose sheer unpredictability throws into relief the qualities of those who find themselves forced to cajole, confront, or oppose him.

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Product Description

The Theocrat takes as its subject one of Arab and Islamic historys most perplexing figures, al-Hakim bi-Amr Illah (the ruler by order of God), the Fatimid caliph who ruled Egypt during the tenth century and whose career was a direct reflection of both the tensions within the Islamic dominions as a whole and of the conflicts within his own mind. In this remarkable novel Bensalem Himmich explores these tensions and conflicts and their disastrous consequences on an individual ruler and on his people. Himmich does not spare his readers the full horror and tragedy of al-Hakims reign, but in employing a variety of textual stylesincluding quotations from some of the best known medieval Arab historians; vivid historical narratives; a series of extraordinary decrees issued by the caliph; and, most remarkably, the inspirational utterances of al-Hakim during his ecstatic visions, recorded by his devotees and subsequently a basis for the foundation of the Druze communityhe succeeds brilliantly in painting a portrait of a character whose sheer unpredictability throws into relief the qualities of those who find themselves forced to cajole, confront, or oppose him.

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Product Details

General

Imprint

American University in Cairo Press

Country of origin

United States

Release date

2009

Availability

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Authors

Editors

Format

Electronic book text

Pages

185

ISBN-13

978-1-306-50412-6

Barcode

9781306504126

Categories

LSN

1-306-50412-0



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