Arberry, A. J. Moorish Poetry (0521170672)
First published by Cambridge in 1953, this book is an English translation of The Pennants, an anthology of Arabic poetry compiled in 1243 by Ibn Sa'id al Andalusi, a native of Alcala la Real in then Moorish southern Spain. The text is arranged geographically and falls into two main divisions, the first part being concerned with poets born in Arabic Spain, and the second dealing with those who were natives of North Africa (from Morocco to Tunisia) and Sicily. The separate geographical sections are further subdivided according to the poets' social status or profession. Featured in this highly personal vision are some of the most famous writers in Arabic literature, together with some more obscure ones. This is a fascinating volume that will be of value to anyone with an interest in the cultural life of the Arab world.
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