A SUNDAY TIMES AND TLS BOOK OF THE YEAR
“Masterly and brilliant”—Simon Sebag Montefiore
“A book of vast scope and stunning insight.”—Anthony Sattin, Spectator
“Commanding erudition and a swashbuckling style define this history of the Arabs” —Justin Marozzi, Sunday Times
This kaleidoscopic book covers nearly 3,000 years of Arab history and sheds light on the wandering Arab peoples and tribes who conquered lands and spread their language and culture over vast distances. Following this process from the roots of the Arabic language, rather than from the emergence of Islam, Tim Mackintosh-Smith begins his narrative over a thousand years before Muhammad and focuses on how Arabic, both spoken and written, has served as a vital source of common cultural identity throughout the centuries.
Mackintosh-Smith reveals how linguistic developments—from pre-Islamic poetry to the development of writing, Muhammad's use of writing, and the later challenges of printing in Arabic—have both aided and hindered the advancement of Arab history. He examines how, even in today's politically fragmented environment following the Arab Spring, the Arabic language remains a source of unity and discord.
Pages: 656, Publication Year: 1210, Dimensions: 12.7x12.7cm
