Last Nahdawi: Taha Hussein and Institution Building in Egypt

Taha Hussein is a prominent Egyptian figure who graduated from al-Azhar University, was a civil servant, and Minister of Public Instruction. The Last Nahdawi is the first biography of Hussein, examining his intellectual outlook and public career against the backdrop of his relationship with the Egyptian state, religious establishment, and French government. It reveals modern Egypt's cultural influence in the Arab and Islamic world.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 312 pages
\n Publication date: 15 June 2021
\n Publisher: Stanford University Press
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Taha Hussein, a prominent figure in Egyptian history, hailed from 1889 to 1973. He holds a remarkable legacy as a civil servant, public intellectual, and ultimately the Egyptian Minister of Public Instruction. During the parliamentary period spanning from 1922 to 1952, Hussein played a pivotal role in shaping significant social and political developments in Egypt. His influence extended to the introduction of a new secular university and the flourishing of the press in the country, as well as his active participation in public discussions on nationalism, religion, women's roles, and education in the process of building a modern, independent nation.

To this day, Hussein continues to be a subject of both admiration and controversy. The Last Nahdawi, a groundbreaking biography, presents the first comprehensive account of Hussein's life, treating his intellectual outlook and public career with equal significance. By examining Hussein's actions within the context of his intricate relationships with the Egyptian state, the religious establishment, and the French government, Hussam R. Ahmed sheds light on the profound cultural influence of modern Egypt in the Arab and Islamic world. Ahmed's work not only provides a historical account of the formation of the Egyptian state but also delves into the life of the country's most renowned intellectual, offering a captivating exploration of his life and contributions.

\n Weight: 472g\n
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 22 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781503627956\n \n