Rise of the Arabic Book

The Arabic book culture during the Middle Ages was much more sophisticated and vibrant than the European book culture, with five libraries in Baghdad alone holding between 200,000 and 1,000,000 books each. Beatrice Gruendler's book "The Rise of the Arabic Book" explores this overlooked aspect of book history and reveals the role books played in shaping the great literary cultures of the world beyond the West.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2020
Publisher: Harvard University Press

During the Middle Ages, the Arabic book culture thrived, with libraries in the Arab world holding exponentially larger collections than those in Europe. Five libraries in Baghdad alone, including multiple copies of standard works, held between 200,000 and 1,000,000 books each. How did the Arabic codex become so popular during this time, even as the well-established form languished in Europe? Beatrice Gruendler's The Rise of the Arabic Book answers this question through in-depth stories of bookmakers, book collectors, stationers, librarians, scholars, and poets of the ninth century. Gruendler, an internationally renowned expert in classical Arabic literature, corrects this oversight and takes us into the rich literary milieu of early Arabic letters.

The history of the book has been largely written with an outsize focus on Europe, overlooking the significant role that books played in shaping the great literary cultures of the world beyond the West. This oversight is corrected by Beatrice Gruendler, an internationally renowned expert in classical Arabic literature, in her book, The Rise of the Arabic Book. Gruendler takes us into the rich literary milieu of early Arabic letters, shedding light on the development and popularity of the Arabic codex during the Middle Ages.

The book explores the various factors that contributed to the rise of the Arabic codex, including the spread of Islam, the development of papermaking, and the establishment of libraries and bookstores. It also delves into the cultural and intellectual significance of the Arabic book, highlighting its role in shaping the development of literature, science, and philosophy in the Arab world.

Through her detailed research and engaging storytelling, Gruendler brings to life the personalities and achievements of bookmakers, book collectors, stationers, librarians, scholars, and poets of the ninth century. She provides a vivid account of the book trade in the Arab world, the processes involved in book production and distribution, and the social and cultural contexts in which books were consumed.

The Rise of the Arabic Book is a valuable contribution to the field of book history and literature studies. It offers a fresh perspective on the development of the book and its cultural significance, challenging the traditional Western-centric narrative. Gruendler's work will be of interest to scholars, students, and anyone with an interest in the history and culture of the Middle East and North Africa.

Weight: 582g
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674987814