Amazon.com
This is the exciting and highly literate story of the real Lawrence of Arabia, as written by Lawrence himself, who helped unify Arab factions against the occupying Turkish army, circa World War I. Lawrence has a novelist's eye for detail, a poet's command of the language, an adventurer's heart, a soldier's great story, and his memory and intellect are at least as good as all those. Lawrence describes the famous guerrilla raids, and train bombings you know from the movie, but also tells of the Arab people and politics with great penetration. Moreover, he is witty, always aware of the ethical tightrope that the English walked in the Middle East and always willing to include himself in his own withering insight.
Book Description
The monumental work that assured T.E. Lawrence's place in history as "Lawrence of Arabia." Not only a consummate military history, but also a colorful epic and a lyrical exploration of the mind of a great man who helped shape the Middle East as it exists today.
Customer Reviews:
A Unique Masterpiece.......2007-09-25
This is one of the great books of the 20th century. That it could be written at all is almost a miracle in itself. Take a brilliant Oxford student trained in the old classical tradition, place him in the Arabian desert as advisor to the wild Bedouin tribesmen during their revolt against the Turks and have him write with an acute sensitivity and unparalleld insight into what was transpiring before him and you may have some notion of what the book is like.
It's a long book. You will learn a great deal about blowing up a railroad bridge in the desert, about camel rides, thirst, and hunger and the heroism and brutality of war. The portraits of Sheik Auda, Sherrif Ali and Prince Faisal of the two Arab boys who Lawrence takes under his wing are masterpieces in and of themselves. The nobility and savagery of the desert tribesmen contrasted with the cold stoicism of the British and the inculcated cruelty of the Turks are just some of themes addressed during the course of the work. There are brilliant passing insights as to the Semitic inspiration for all the revealed religions and their relation to the desert beautiful descripitions of the terrain the weather and the obstacles encountered. When Lawrence says that from the beginning he believed the Arab revolt would succeed because it grew out of a sympathetic population was opposed by a modern army that could not garrison the territory occupied one wishes that President Bush had read it instead of just seeing the movie. Read it yourself.
The Hejaz War.......2007-06-10
The Hejaz War of 1917 was written by Colonel T.E. Lawrence at the Paris peace talks in 1920 -21. Lawrence understood the Arabs thay did not conquer territory but they brought the Arab tribes together to conquer the Ottoman Turkish Army whom they considered poor soldiers. The Hejaz is the Red Sea coast parallel to the extinct lava fields of the 3,000m high Hejaz mountains. The Hejaz railway, linking Damascus with Medina, was attacked by Lawrence's Hejaz army until the Turks could no longer repair it. The Seven Pillars of Wisdom is the bible of Guerilla Warfare and should be read by General Petraeus US Armed Forces Commander, Iraq.
The taking of Damascus intact in 1918 by the arab army before General Allenby's allied army at least ensured Sheikh Feisal became King of Iraq. The Sykes -Picot treaty of 1916 ensured the Middle East was divided up by Britain and France directly leading to the present Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Stylistic autobiography with insight.......2007-01-09
Mr. TE Lawrence was not only a gifted tactician/strategist but also a scholar of the highest order. His writing style is rich and descriptive avoiding the dry pitfalls sometimes associated with autobiographies. The story of the Arab revolt from the man who helped shape and guide it is an invaluable resource to have. TE Lawrence's thoughts on irregular/unconventional warfare are insightful and still lessons to be rememembered today. An enjoyable and insightful read- perfect for any military history collection.
Learning the Arab way.......2007-01-05
For me, the complexity of the Middle East seemed unfathomable. By reading this book, carefully, delving into the author's text, I have a better understanding of the people of the Middle East and their many tribes and cultural ways. I also can begin to understand their rivalries and methods of dealing with each other. It is a very complex society that will take the USA years to understand and deal with.
Extraordinary - History and the Man.......2006-11-10
At a critical time, the right man steeped forward (if somewhat indirectly) to encourage an Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire. This classic war novel is more than the usual, as it reveals a character tortured with self analysis.
Highly recommended.
Book Description
Armed with their courage, their determination, their wits and a Bible, Robert Cornuke and Larry Williams embarked on a journey to confirm the Bible as historically accurate. In the process they discovered not only their goal but a faith strengthened by the evidence. "When I stood on those scorched rocks, my life was changed at that moment," Cornuke would later recall. Sneaking across borders, crawling into forbidden military installations, and using night vision goggles to avoid being detected, these men pursued their mission. In Search of the Mountain of God tells the amazing story of the discovery of what they and others are convinced is the authentic location of the biblical Mt. Sinai. Their evidence and passion will make a believer out of you.
Customer Reviews:
This book is completely horrible........2007-01-16
The fact that Cornuke lacks the letters PhD from his last name ought to tell you from the beginning that this book is not a credible source of Biblical archaeology. Cornuke can write a great adventure story, but this book screams more fiction than fact and reaks of irresponsibility. Biblical Archaeology is not done by taking a verse of scripture, then finding a landscape to match it. Cornuke's technique is as follows, "Oh look! A rock that is split! That must be where Moses struck the rock and water came out." The equivalent would be you walking out your front door and saying, "Look! A hill! That must be Gologtha!" This book is horrifically inaccurate and sensational, and barely believable. If Cornuke was credible his recommendation on the jacket wouldn't come from Nat'l Geographic Television. It would come from reputable archaeologists and scholars who would back his claim. Sadly this book is not credible, the reader gets duped, and he pockets your money. Look elsewhere for solid Biblical scholarship. But if you're in the mood for exciting fiction this is a good option.
Mount Sinai has been hidden for Centuries--This Book Reveals It.......2006-08-06
Ever yearn for some armchair adventure? Bob Cornuke is a former SWAT investigator and now turned explorer and adventurer. In this highly readable book, IN SEARCH OF THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD (Broadman & Holman Publishers) you can go along with Bob and Larry Williams as they search for the real location of Mt. Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
For centuries, many have believed Mt. Sinai was in Egypt and in fact a Monastery is built on this site. Yet the archeology and some other characteristics didn't fall into place. Bob Cornuke used the pages of his Bible as the guide to find the real Mt. Sinai, the altar where the Israelites offered the Golden Calf and the twelve springs of Elim.
The pages of Scripture spring to life as the reader catches the growing excitement and inspiration from every discovery. Also the reader will experience when Bob confronts a Holy God and the fact that he is standing on His mountain. "I recalled the stern admonition: 'Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.' (Exodus 19:12). The night before I had glibly dismissed the text--but now my heart was pounding. I felt sick. I believed at any moment a bolt from heaven would strike me down. Without thinking, I turned to Larry and barked an order, "Let's go--NOW! We have to get off this mountain."
Readers will love the armchair look at Biblical archeology from this storytelling adventurer. The photos and the information will capture your imagination and set you thinking for hours on end about the truth behind the pages of the Bible.
REVIEWING SOME REVIEWERS.......2005-09-26
[Originally posted on 2004, May 6.]
I do quite a bit of reading with fairly critical eyes, and yet I don't hesitate to give IN SEARCH OF THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD five stars. It is an exciting adventure story about a very significant subject. The evidence that Mr. Cornuke provides in support of his belief that Jabal al Lawz in Saudi Arabia is the REAL Mount Sinai is absolutely overwhelming. It is an excellent book that may very well challenge some of your previously held beliefs while it authenticates the historicity of the Bible's Old Testament.
What I primarily wish to do here is to correct some remarks in three of the other online reviews which I suspect might confuse others:
A READER FROM USA states that Jabal al Lawz cannot be the real Mount Sinai because Colin Humphreys evidently claims in his book, 'The Miracles Of Exodus', that Mount Sinai had to have been a volcano (due to its burning, smoking peak, and its trembling.) Yes, that would be true, but only if one feels compelled to attribute natural phenomena to all of the miracles described in The Bible. If a person accepts that God is quite capable of transcending His own creation, then finding a "rational" explanation for every miracle is not necessary, and probably fruitless. Because the circumstances on Mount Sinai when Moses met there with God describes what we commonly associate with volcanic activity, it does not at all follow that Mount Sinai MUST have been a volcano. God may heal a person of cancer, but that DOES NOT mean that God MUST be a surgeon.
WILLIAM E. THOMPSON seems to be reviewing two of Cornuke's books simultaneously and that is bound to cause confusion for those unfamiliar with the other book. The statement that the explorers should have (admittedly) returned to the site for further investigation is in regards to Cornuke's, 'In Search Of The Lost Mountains Of Noah', in which he relates his failure to locate Noah's Ark. Although Chapter Twenty-Six ('The Blood Of The Lamb') of that book is quite moving - in which the sacrifice of a lamb is compared with the sacrificial act of Jesus - I agree that the book ultimately should have been shelved until the author had legitimate evidence to offer. But that is no reason to avoid this superior book on the discovery of Mount Sinai.
In his review, ABUJIFAN far too easily dismisses the many indicators that point to Jabal al Lawz as the REAL Mount Sinai. He fails to address many of the historic landmarks that (coincidentally?!) happen to be in the same general location as the burnt Mountain, and also the coral reef that (conveniently) connects the lower tip of the Sinai Peninsula (across The Red Sea) with Saudi Arabia and the immediate area where all of these landmarks are found! He didn't mention the existence of the water-worn Split Rock (referenced in Exodus 17:5-6 and Isaiah 48:21 of The Bible) - an astonishing find! And he dismisses the photograph of the (presumed) Golden Calf Altar as a pile of rocks that "look like many naturally-occurring formations all over Western Arabia." Well, I've lived in the Southwestern U.S. all of my life, and unless rocks form quite differently in Arabia than they do here, that formation is hardly naturally-occurring, and I find it incredible that a person with a degree in archaeology would make such a claim. And therein, I suspect, is the rub. Is this a case of "professional jealousy"? Would it bother a pedigreed archaeologist if a testosterone-laden explorer armed with just his wits and his Bible made one of the greatest discoveries in the archaeologist's own backyard? Well, I don't know the answer to that, but I DO KNOW that 'IN SEARCH OF THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD: THE DISCOVERY OF THE REAL MOUNT SINAI' is a real page-turner and a Five Star book, doggone it! That's all I have to say; I'm gonna go climb back under my rock now and wait to see who finds me first, an archaeologist or an adventurer.
disappointed a bit but also intrigued..........2005-06-08
I read the Search for the Missing Gold or whatever first and was VERY disappointed to see that this was basically the same story. Why couldn't they have presented the information in an orderly, systematic manner and not like a soap opera.
The good thing is that this should bring a lot of focus on the government of Saudi Arabia and why they don't cooperate with world-wide archaeology and quit acting like a medieval fiefdom.
Exciting read, low scholarship, high on Bible integrity.......2005-01-02
This is an exciting tale told from the perspective of "hands on" explorers who read the Bible as accurate in matters of history. Written as an easy read, the book is very interesting but weak from a scholarship perspective. Still, the excitement captured by the authors makes this a good book to read, particularly if you are interested in lands of the Bible.
Mr. Cornuke is a dedicated Christian believer, as evidenced from his writings and the way he uses Scripture to guide his searches. He has a background in forensics, which makes for an interesting view from which to handle archaeological evidence. His conclusions are in disagreement with the traditional route of the Exodus, which places the Israelites wandering around in the Sinai Peninsula. The problem with the traditional assertion is the lack of evidence and common sense. I give Mr. Cornuke a lot of credit for breaking with the tradition, especially since the tradition is not based upon Biblical information.
Mr. Cornuke places the crossing of the Red Sea on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula (straits of Tiran), offering as evidence Bible verses and an underwater land bridge. He attempts to excavate drowned chariots, but claimed that water was too deep. As for Mt. Sinai, Mr. Cornuke places it in Saudi Arabia. He offers some photographic evidence, for example, pictures of an altar with c calf inscribed on it. Of course such evidence by itself is not conclusive. But his assertions fit the known geography of the land a lot better than the Sinai Peninsula. I'm convinced that Mt. Sinai is not in the Sinai Peninsula, and is located likely in Saudi Arabia, although I disagree with the mountain Mr. Cornuke chose.
The book is written from the perspective of an explorer and is a fast, exciting read. Although the level of scholarship in this book is a little weak, the book makes up for this somewhat because of the "take you there with me" mentality of the authors. You really feel as if you are along with them, making the discoveries as you go through the ancient lands. If you would like a more detailed work that comes to similar conclusions (ie Sinai is located in Arabia), I would recommend the book "The Miracles of Exodus" by Colin Humphreys. This book offers a lot more scholarship, and retains the "take you there with me" mentality.
Book Description
When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile.These magical characters now disguise themselves as normal citizens and have created their own peaceful and secret societies in modern-day NewYork and around the world.When wayward fables from Arabia arrive in Manhattan at the exclusive luxury apartment building called Fabletown, a culture clash of dire proportions arises that must be defused beforeblood is spilled.
Customer Reviews:
Demented fairy tales, but in a good way.......2007-06-11
The premise of this wonderful series is to rewrite and expand the world of fairy tales. They characters of which has entered our world fleeing a great evil. Lost of fun, smart and witty, typical american style illustrations for the most part, but nice. Some similarities of premise to the Sand Man series, but not quite as inventive or as extensively research and deep. Start at #1 for the best read.
Still at cruising speed........2006-08-24
Bill Willingham, Fables: Arabian Nights (and Days) (Vertigo, 2006)
The seventh volume of the Fables series has finally dropped, and it looks like the transitional-volume period is coming to an end. Willingham gives us two stories here. The first deals with the coming of Sinbad and his retinue to Fabletown after the Adversary started attacking the Arabian homelands. Not all of them, however, are seeking refuge... the second is about a love story in the Army of the Wooden Soldiers, and is just the sort of thing for which this series has earned all its raves-- the kind of tale that you have to wonder what Bill Willingham was smoking when he came up with (and where you can get some of it). Of course, anything that looks like a mere diversion isn't, and it all ties in at the end.
Another very good volume in the series. It'll keep you interested until things explode again. *** ½
Fables.......2006-08-16
The Fables series continues to get better and better. This is clearly evident in Fables vol.7.
An introduction to the next phase in the war.......2006-08-11
"Arabian Nights" is as good as any of the books in the Fables series, but the entire sequence read like a prelude to future volumes. Nothing happens in this latest installment to significantly impact the war against the Adversary, nor are there any major changes in the established cast, though we see a lot of new characters introduced who will no doubt play major roles in the future.
There are basically two stories in this volume. The first concerns the arrival of a delegation of Arabian Fables in New York, led by Sinbad. We've seen references to non-European Fable lands in previous volumes and knew that the Adversary had already begun his invasion of the worlds of the Arabian Fables. Now we learn that the Arabian Fables are quite aware of the threat, but still have not decided whether or not to ally themselves with the Fables who have fled to Earth.
There are a lot of culture clashes and the requisite amount of treachery and bloodshed, along with a few subplots highlighting the personal lives of Beast, Beauty, Prince Charming, the Frog Prince, and Red Riding Hood. (As a side note, I personally found the resolution of the Djinn threat to be rather lame -- it is introduced as the magical equivalent of a nuclear weapon, but resolved in an anticlimactic manner in which Willingham seems to be making up new magical rules just to get himself out of a plot bind.)
The second story is about two wooden soldiers serving the Empire in a unit that is establishing a beachhead on an Arabian Fable world. We get another glimpse inside the Empire and learn more about the wooden soldiers, and these two individuals are obviously being set up as recurring characters whom we'll see in future volumes.
Doesn't Live Up...........2006-07-31
I'm a tremendous fan of the "Fables" series of graphic novels, and eagerly await each new installment. With the central concept -- the characters of fable and fairy tale, driven from their homes by an evil tyrant, now live in secret among us normal folk -- author Bill Willingham and artist Mark Buckingham continue to outdo themselves with bizarre plot turns and a massive, wonderful cast of immortal refugees. That said...I didn't dig this seventh installment quite as much. It has the same flair as the rest of the series, but the two stories are detours from the main plotline, and my favorite characters have minimal screen time. After "March of the Wooden Soliders" (definitely the best in the series so far), the plot got a makeover that doesn't entirely agree with me. I hope they get things back on track soon.
"Arabian Nights and Days" continues the second chapter of the series, after the power shift that occured in Volume 5, "The Mean Seasons." Prince Charming is the mayor of the hidden Fabletown community in New York City, and is learning the hard way that when you're mayor, you have to do more than attend fancy dinners and get laid. Beauty and the Beast are his deputy and sheriff, respectively. Former deputy Snow White is raising her kids at the non-human Fabletown in upstate New York, former sheriff (and father of Snow's kids) Big Bad Wolf is MIA, and Charming has enlisted Mowgli (y'know, from "The Jungle Book") to track down the wolf.
The main story in Vol. 7 focuses on the sudden arrival of Sinbad (of "Arabian Nights" fame), who comes to Fabletown with his entire harem in tow. Seems the Arabian fables are evacuating their homelands in advance of an invasion from the evil Adversary. Sinbad is their diplomat, but his arrival in the US sparks a massive clash of cultures. (Concubines are bad? Why?) Even worse, Sinbad brought a djinn (aka a genie) with him, and as Fabletown's head witch explains, djinns are the magic equivalent of WMDs. Any three wishes you want? What if the wrong person rubs the lamp? Unfortunately, this particular conflict resolves itself in a very lame, anticlimactic way. Call me crazy, but I think this series works best when the heroes get to kick butt. That doesn't happen here. Although there are some clever/ironic digs at the current situation in Iraq and some good jokes about the culture gap, this story made me ache for the main storyline. I miss the Big Bad Wolf!
SPOILER WARNING!
This volume also includes a two-issue story about an unconventional love affair between Rodney and June, two sentient wooden mannequins serving the forces of evil. (In the series' craziest twist, the evil Adversary turned out to be Gepetto the puppetmaker.) Because they're made of wood, Rodney and June can't exactly realize their love for each other, but their determination to be together leads them on quite a journey. Sorry, but I didn't really care. Again, good writing and execution (the drawing is by guest artist Jim Fern), but a blah story.
I liked this book, but I wish Willingham would get back to the interesting stuff. There's things I'm dying to know. Will Boy Blue get over Little Red Riding Hood? Will Pinocchio side with his rotten father? Are there more traitors lurking in the fables' midst? Is Goldilocks really dead? And what about that reporter dude who discovered the fables' existence? I have high hopes for Volume 8, which will focus on Mowgli's search for the Big Bad Wolf. Sounds like it'll be blast. With "Arabian Nights and Days," it felt more like a muffled thud.
Book Description
Keeping technical terminology to a minimum, this comprehensive handbook provides a detailed yet accessible overview of Arabic wherein its phonology, morphology and syntax can be readily accessed. Accompanied by extensive examples, it will prove an invaluable practical guide for supporting students' textbooks, classroom work or self-study, and a useful resource for scholars and professionals.
Download Description
A Reference Grammar of Modern Standard Arabic is a comprehensive handbook on the structure of Arabic. Keeping technical terminology to a minimum, it provides a detailed yet accessible overview of Modern Standard Arabic in which the essential aspects of its phonology, morphology and syntax can be readily looked up and understood. Accompanied by extensive carefully-chosen examples, it will prove invaluable as a practical guide for supporting students' textbooks, classroom work or self-study, and will also be a useful resource for scholars and professionals wishing to develop an understanding of the key features of the language. Grammar notes are numbered for ease of reference, and a section is included on how to use an Arabic dictionary, as well as helpful glossaries of Arabic and English linguistic terms and a useful bibliography. Clearly structured and systematically organised, this book is set to become the standard guide to the grammar of contemporary Arabic.
Customer Reviews:
Solid Reference Grammar: it's what it says it is.......2007-10-07
This is an excellent reference manual for MSA Arabic. I found it a useful reference for somebody who already has a firm grasp of Arabic and would like to gain a deeper understanding of the language. If you are a beginner, or even intermediate student, this really isn't the right text for you. It is simply too difficult to make sense of without adequate background. I majored in Middle East Studies/Arabic and also lived in the Mid East for a while--and found it just right for me. I selected this book a while after graduating to solidify and deepen my understanding of the extreme complexities of the language. I was not the top student in written Arabic (nor was I the bottom student), so perhaps a more exceptional student academically could make use of it with less experience. Personally, I did much better in spoken Arabic, but less so in written Arabic--so I needed (need) a book like this.
The book does build from chapter to chapter, so skipping right to chapter 11, for instance, may be difficult for the average person. If you skip chapters, it assumes that you understand the previous chapters. The amount of material covered in this book is both its strength and it's weakness: if you are ready for over 700 pgs of complicated Arabic grammar (not a page is wasted), go for it. Again, I don't recommend this for any but the VERY serious intermediate student (any student of Arabic has to be serious--I mean serious even for an Arabic student), or advanced skilled Arabic user.
I think it is best to look elsewhere if you are having trouble with a particular concept. If you understand the concept at some level, and want to deepen your understanding, this book may be right for you. For example, verbs. If you in general know how to work an Arabic verb but want to know just how hollow verbs or assimilated verbs (/etc.) works beyond a basic recognition/survival ability, than this is a good choice. If you stumble with simple verbs then this is less useful--it will only confuse you with the level of detail.
However, everybody is different--I tend to be much less grammar oriented, and much more "speak to me and I'll speak back--if you look blank I'll try again" type of guy, not the academic guy. I got this book to balance that, and got more than my money's worth. This book is exactly what it says it is, and if that's what you want, get it.
Good, concise Arabic grammar guide.......2007-03-08
I have been studying Arabic for two years and this book is MUCH better at explaining Arabic grammar than the Ahlan wa Sahlan series by Mahdi Alosh. Though it is really dry (after all it is a reference guide), Ryding is much more concise and consistent than Alosh. She also presents the material in a sequential order that is more conducive to learning complex Arabic structure. I find this to be the most frustrating aspect of the Ahlan wa Sahlan series. Ryding also provides an excellent guide for Arabic verb structure which is the foundation of the language. Alosh only hits on it occassionally and well after a student of Arabic should be exposed to it.
The reason I am giving it 4 stars, instead of 5 is because she does get a little too technical with the usage of English grammar concepts. However, she does provide a good explanation for why she does this and it does help provide a better understanding of how Arabic relates.
I hightly recommend this guide as a companion to any university Arabic program. Wish I had discovered it two years ago!!
A Reference Grammar of Modern Standard Arabic.......2007-02-22
Found the book in good condition and on time
Best current reference on Arabic.......2006-09-10
In 39 crisp chapters covering more than 700 pages Ryding organizes both the grand lines and essential details of Arabic language structure and grammar. This is a highly readable, easily searched linguistic reference. The index really does the job and her list of references alone is a significant academic contribution. Finally, this gem will make life easier for both students of Arabic and researchers. All my thumbs are up for this once in a lifetime linguistic treasure.
breath-taking.......2006-08-26
after experimenting with a lot of arabic grammar books I have finally met the most engaging one.I can not imagine the right words to give sufficient definition of the capabilities of this breath-taking book.every sentence is supplied with full transliteration.extensive,exhausive but not exhaushing.it is a must to buy book.
Customer Reviews:
great timing.......2007-07-07
I received this item very fast, faster than i expected with the packaging in excellent condition.
An interesting book. A start maybe, but not a conclusion.......2007-07-05
The book makes an interesting read, Van Sertima has challenged for years the concept put forward by some that Africans (or more specifically Black Africans) have contributed little to world civilization. In this book he presents the case of the Moors and their influence on Europe.
While some parts are interesting and in some cases can be quite an eye opener they should by no means be seen as a be all and end all to African studies. One major problem I feel with the book is that while Van Sertima is trying to present Africas contibution to the world he is seeing it through an entirely Western perspective.
First of all, the Moors (i.e. the people of North West Africa) though some are of dark complexion and some black most of them are not. Unlike for example colonial American history the eithical outlook of the people did not revolve around race but rather faith or tribe. Often historians project modern concepts of race and society on hisorical people who simply had no concept of it.
Van Sertima is not unique in this nor are western historians take Nassar for example in Egypt who placed on his flag the embem of Salahuddin calling him a 'great Arab leader' (even though he was a Kurd who lead an army that almost certainly consisted of mostly Turks, secondly Kurds and then Arabs)
Another issue with the book is it is based upon almost entirely Euopean sources. True, many of them are translated Arabic books but that can hardly substitute from the original. There are some that would see this as a minor or even unimportant issue (many of the most Islamaphobic books printed today are by 'experts' who dont speak a word of Arabic) but imagine someone writing a book on say French history or the history of the Russian church but could speak not a word of French or Russian!
As a result, Van Sertima is left with a book that often contradicts itself and often has errors resulting from miss-translations or transliterations.
The book is an iteresting read but Andalusia for example, was hardly a Black African colony. It was a land that included native Spaniards, Arabs, Jews, Slavs (in fairly large numbers) Persians, Black Africans etc. People that Europeans may have refered to as 'Moors' does not mean that they were Black as the term refered to North Africans in general.
The book includes an exellent biblography for further reading though almost all, books by western authors.
Golden Pages of the Moor.......2006-08-11
Golden Age of the Moor is destined to become a classic if it isn't already that. If I could give it ten stars, I'd give it twenty. Teeming with boldly told truths and irrefutable facts about what was perhaps the most pivotal time period in the history of African and Western cultures, focusing on one of the greatest empires ever, this book is not merely a great read; it is full scale reeducation. Zooming in on the Moorish occupation of Spain between the 8th and 15th centuries, this book offers readers an inspiring revisitation of that period. Here is an awesome compilation of well presented scholarly essays representing an all-star ensemble of front line scholars and progressive thinkers, complied and edited by the J. A. Rogers of this generation, Dr. Ivan Van Sertima. And speaking of Rogers, Golden Age of the Moor mirrors Rogers, as it too, displays many rare illustrations and photographs depicting historical Moors as the highly civilized and enlightened people they were. And this book boldly identifies Moors as an African phenotype.
It's really exciting to vicariously participate in the collaborative work of these great minds as they converge scholarship on this one important subject; the Moors. One can only imagine the force of energy and unity involved to make this timely project the outstanding resource success it is. It's shameful that so Many people are dumbfounded about this history, thus, I feel awkward saying, this is one of the best books on the subject.
I've read some harsh criticisms about this work and it is nothing but sour grapes. When truth, especially that which has been hidden for a very long time, boldly emerges; some people who have profited by its absence, either emotionally, spiritually, economically or whatever, are certain to anger, and through that anger; they will call the truth teller a liar. Such is the case with the emergence of this book. Moorish history has for too long been pushed out of the big picture and it deserves its proper place on the historical canvas. We applaud those who dare to interpret and report history with integrity to let the chips fall where they may. On that note, I recommend the Euvolution Of Sacred Muur Science By Noble Timothy El as a complementary resource to this book.
My only criticism (and perhaps it's not really that) is that, as some of the contributors here present the research supporting Moorish identity, they seem to almost defend their positions in doing so. While I do understand the reason for this, I insist that truth needs no explanation or defense. Everybody who knows, knows the Moors were Africans. You need not engage, dignify or invite polemics on that topic. History speaks louder than words. Cased closed!
Mr. Van Sertima! Thank you, Sir.
Moor Maur Moore Muur and More Knowledge.......2006-02-05
Superior book that's all I can say, nothing but the facts any detractors are just hating. Like Malcolm said "History is a just reward for all research" and thats what Ivan Van Sertima presents in one of his best works on Moor culture. I would recommend this book along with "The Huevolution of Sacred Muur Science Past and Present" by Noble Timothy Myers-EL (2005)
Historically incorrect revisionism.......2006-02-02
Since when does one have to be historically incorrect in order to be politically correct? I bought this book in order to get some good history on the Maghrib area, the Imazighren peoples generally do not have much written history except that which is in Arabic (Ibn Battuta, Ibn Khaldun, etc) or by the French colonizers. I have travelled throughout Morroco and am very much interested in the Sahrawi cause.
Ivan Sertima is no help in sorting out that history because his knowledge of the area seems like it came from armchair readings. The Introduction sets out on the first page to explain an African dynasty in Spain. But Van Sertima doesn't have any name other than which the Romans gave him "Batrikus". Now these are the same Romans who had no knowledge of the trans-Atlantic world, no Arabic science, and no way of knowing what the hell they were talking about! So much for the alleged facts of Batrikus and his Spanish dynasty.
But that is not all. Van Sertima is not clear about what name to give these Batrikus people...so we can just call them "Van Sertima batrikanii" or whatever. In the next paragraph Van Sertima tells us that "They settled in that part of the country between their place of the landing in the west, and the country of the Franks in the east." But there were no Franks in Spain!!! The Franks were in Gaul. The Visigiths were in Spain, but they didn't get there until later. They did not convert to Christianity until King Recared in 589 CE. In Gaul, the Frankish King Clovis had already converted in 486 CE. But Van Sertima says that the Romans arrived 157 years later. Later? Later than what year? Van Sertima does not answer this because you can't put exact dates on mythological characters, right?
Then Van Sertima fabricates a story about a certain Taharka from Ethiopia and/or Egypt and calls the Roman city Tarraco (in Spain) his geographical namesake. Again, there is no proof so he calls on a XVIth century Christian imperialist pseudo-historian Florian de Ocampo to justify this legend! Imagine that! It's like calling on Hitler to give accurate information about Jewish history. Talk about "asenine ignorance" (Van Sertima, 9) In the next paragraph, Van Sertima is sure that Napoleon "L'Afrique commence aux Pyrenees," but agin the origin of this saying is still in dispute. You can be sure it was not a racist comment though, it was entirely imperialist. Next: the origin of the word 'maures' is still in dispute, but Sertima thinks it has too do with skin color since that is all he seems to be able to see. In fact the Sahrawis are, and have always been, mixed with a full range of beautiful skin shades from dark to very light. Color only matters if you care...good history really matters to a good historian. I am astonished that Van Sertima uses the term "berber" since it is so imperialist. The real name of these peoples is Imazighren, pl. for Amazigh ("Free men"). But this is coming from a man who believes that Fez and Marrakesh are port cities (4), but they are land-locked!!! Unless Van Sertima knows about a port in the middle of the desert.
My charges are not against the idea of raising consciousness about African contributions to civilization, that record stands for itself. What I am against is the bungling of dates, geography, and the poor reasoning skills Van Sertima displays. Yet I do think the work on the whole is valuable if it helps raise consciousness. The essays by Carew, Reynolds, and especially Chinyelu are really great, but Pimienta-Bey is a little extreme. Don't take Van Sertima's word for it, study widely in the field and cultivate open-mindedness and diversity not propaganda. After all, Van Sertima doesn't even think Diop is always correct.
Average customer rating:
- For the Bellydance Afficionado
- FOr the Pictures, if Nothing Else
- Inspirational, but Flawed
- great pictures but...
- Or, Belly Dancing for Dummies! A Good Resource and Accessory
|
Serpent of the Nile: Women and Dance in the Arab World
Wendy Buonaventura
Manufacturer: Interlink Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Middle Eastern
| Regional
| History & Criticism
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Folk
| Dance
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Dance
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
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Egypt
| Middle East
| History
| Subjects
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General
| Egypt
| Africa
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1566563003 |
Book Description
"I think it is the most eloquent of female dances, with its haunting lyricism, its fire, its endlessly shifting kaleidoscope of sensual movement."
With these words, Wendy Buonaventura explains her own fascination with Arabic dance. Her book is a unique celebration of the female dancers of the Arab world, and their impact on the West. She explains the origins of this ancient art, which has survived in the face of commercialism, religious disapproval and changing times.
Focusing on the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, she shows how Arabic dance came to be influenced by Western ideas about art and entertainment. But the influence was two-way. In the heyday of "Orientalism," Arabic dance exerted a powerful influence on the Western imagination-on such writers as Flaubert, such artists as David Roberts and Jean-Leon Gerome, and such imitators as Colette and Mata Hari. Their fascination was often based on common fantasies about the women of the Middle East. Yet, as the book's sumptuous illustrations show, this obsession also produced wonderfully evocative images. At the turn of the century, the genre also had an impact on fashion, theater and popular entertainment.
Customer Reviews:
For the Bellydance Afficionado.......2002-11-17
Lots of colour pictures ... past & present ...including old paintings, quotes & accounts of the people who actually watched belly dancing...& then tried to describe it!
For those just starting out to find out about Bellydancing & such enthusiasts,there are some pictures of famous older dancers, past & present .. Samya Gamal, Fifi Abdou & Sohair Zaki.
More like a collection of cameos than a real in-depth exploration of the Art Form, or Elucidation of the styles & Expression... but it IS a good coffee-table book & nice, informative read .
FOr the Pictures, if Nothing Else.......2002-07-04
I can't speak to the accuracy of Wendy Buonaventura's history of belly dancing, though I found no evidence of the most controversial complaint, that she fails to note the role of European Orientalists in fabricating our notions of Middle-Eastern dance. In fact, she discusses this very thing at length.
The treasure in the book is the collection of paintings. Where else can you see Dinet's gorgeous watercolors? I had never even heard of him. Are the pictures accurate? I suspect they are. Are they representative? Of course not. Like Gauguin in Tahiti, the Orientalists saw what they wanted to see.
Inspirational, but Flawed.......2001-07-26
Wendy Buonaventura obviously loves raks baladi ("country" or folkloric belly dance) with a passion. As sometimes happens with authors passionate about a subject, she unfortunately treats her opinions as facts upon occasion. As a dancer, I love the glorious Orientalist pictures, early 20th-century photos and fascinatingly slanted accounts from Western travellers, and I love her feelings for the dance. It's a beautiful book to peruse, and you can get some marvelous ideas for theatrical costuming from it. But like the Orientalists she reviews, Buonaventura presents an exotic and monolithic Middle East, where Egypt represents this entire diverse region and where nothing changes over time. She also perpetuates the popular myth that this is a *women's* dance, whereas in truth both sexes dance at private functions, and in both Egypt and Turkey, men historically performed as well. (Western tourists just weren't interested!) Read this for its lovely artwork and, if you're a dancer, for a feel-good spiritual connection with earlier dancers--but if you're interested in the subject of dance history, do some further research. And if you are involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism, PLEASE don't use this book for costume documentation. Egyptian clothing pre-1600 was very, very different.
great pictures but..........2000-08-29
The quality and quantity of pictures in this book is wonderful and there is also some good information but unfortunately all the information is not very accurate and there are even many things that are not true. As a book this is nice to watch but as this book has become "a bible of belly dance" when other more accurate documents have been hard to find I can't rate this higher because readers tend to believe everything that is written here.
Or, Belly Dancing for Dummies! A Good Resource and Accessory.......2000-07-26
"Serpent of the Nile" is a wonderful book for anyone with an interest in Middle Eastern Dance, which is currently gaining tremendous popularity in the West. The author traces the art of 'Beladi,' what we now refer to as 'belly-dancing' from its origin to how it has changed over time. There is a lot of very interesting information in here, written concisely and accessibly, even for those of us who are not overly concerned with history; such as the need for male dancers to entertain the public when women were forbidden to do so, how the patriarchal nature of Arabic society affected Beladi, and how the Westerners exoticised and perhaps even corrupted the original form of dance. But the beauty of this book lies in its stunning pictures, a treat for the eyes! Photographs of sculptures, paintings and engravings of dancers and musicians fill the pages and make it an ideal coffee table book. A wonderful resource.
Book Description
These stories (and stories within stories, and stories within stories within stories), told by the Princess Shahrazad under the threat of death if she ceases to amuse, first reached the West around 1700. They fired in the European imagination an appetite for the mysterious and exotic which has never left it. Collected over centuries from India, Persia, and Arabia, and ranging from vivacious erotica, animal fables, and adventure fantasies to pointed Sufi tales, the stories of The Arabian Nights provided the daily entertainment of the medieval Islamic world at the height of its glory.
The present new translation by Husain Haddawy is of the Mahdi edition, the definitive Arabic edition of a fourteenth-century Syrian manuscript in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, which is the oldest surviving version
of the tales and is considered to be the most authentic. This early version is without the embellishments and additions that appear in later Indian and Egyptian manuscripts, on which all previous English translations were based.
Customer Reviews:
So far very good, not for kids though.......2007-08-27
I have been reading this to my 8 yr old and changing or leaving out the inappropriate parts. She loves to hear it, and with the cliff hangers she is always asking for another chapter.
Excellent Translation.......2007-05-16
Excellent translation, from the oldest known manuscript of the tales. True to the original, it captures not just the letter, but the spirit of the text. Clearly, Haddawy is a talented writer on his own accord.
A very good place to discover Arab culture as well.
Arabian Nights.......2007-01-16
As I took a trip to Egypt over the new year, I thought it fitting that I should read books pertaining to the culture there. So I picked up this authoritative copy of Arabian Nights from the library and took it with me for some reading.
This edition is followed by a second edition that includes the better-known stories (including Aladdin and Sinbad). I didn't recognize any of the stories in this edition. Granted, I didn't read every story.
I think the trouble with getting together an "authoritative text" on the Arabian Nights is that the stories were never meant to be compiled into a book and read straight through. The stories were part of a rich oral culture that involved sitting around a fire with fine musical instruments, good food, great company and a storyteller who could draw in extra details and add in any embellishments that he thought the crowd would appreciate. Meaning- you never really heard the same story twice.
All of this is lost in a print copy. The stories begin to seem repetitive (which they wouldn't, if they were told over the course of a few years by a traveling storyteller) and the language becomes onerous- every section begins and ends with the same two phrases over and over, again and again.
However, the stories are a lot of fun :-) If you're interested in the Arabian Nights, I would certainly recommend this edition- Haddawy does well in his translation. But I'd also only read a story or two here and there, so that you don't become tired of the book. That way, the magic will still hit you. Or maybe, you can become the storyteller and read it aloud to someone else- it would probably be excellent in that form as well!
Handcrafted Quality.......2006-07-12
They don't make books like they used to - or, so i thought, until i bought this elegant edition of The Arabian nights. Beautifully bound, printed on high-quality paper, with an erudite introduction, and clear, but stylish font, I thought how appropriate for the publisher to release a classic such as The Arabian nights in such a 'classic' style, hearkening back to a time when great care was put into published books.
Congratulations on a great edition.
The best 'Nights' yet!.......2006-07-09
Haddawy's translation is the most accurate and elegant yet. Although it does have a few quirks (typos, unfamiliar phrases) it is by far better than any other English translation of the 'Nights.' Also, the Syrian manuscript he used as the basis for his translation is now considered the standard Arabic 'Nights.' (for tales that are especially popular in the West, but are probably less authentic, such as 'Aladdin' or 'Sindbad the Sailor,' check out the second volume Haddawy's 'Nights.') If you want a more complete, but less accurate 'Nights,' check out Sir Richard Burton's translation. I personally have a few more problems with Burton's translation though: I don't want to have to read 16 volumes (10 original volumes, 6 supplementary volumes) of the 'Nights,' his writing style is slightly archaic (Burton was from the Victorian age), and sometimes he gets excessively engrossed in sexual detail and nuance that it detracts from the important aspects of whatever particular scene he is dealing with. I do also have one minor issue with Haddawy's translation (actually it's more of an issue with the manuscript he used): the third old man's tale is missing in the Story of the Merchant and the Demon (this wouldn't be much of a problem if that particular story didn't happen to be one of my favorites.)
Book Description
King Shahryar kills a new wife every night, because he is afraid she will stop loving him. But his new bride Shahrazad has a clever plan to save herself. Her nightly stories--of Sinbad the Sailor, Ali Baba, and many other heroes and villains--are so engrossing that King Shahryar has to
postpone her execution again and again... This illustrated edition brings together all the Arabian Nights tales in an original retelling by award-winning author Geraldine McCaughrean.
(paperback reissue of ISBN 0-19-274500-X)
Customer Reviews:
Ultimate Fairy Tales.......2007-08-20
"Arabian Nights" is one of those works that everyone has heard of, but not many have actually read. Hence I decided to actually read it, instead of guessing the stories of Ali Baba or Abu Kasim. I am glad that I did.
"Arabian Nights" are well deserving their reputation as one of the best collections of fairy tales anywhere. Interwoven and connected by the young Queen wanting to stay alive, and managing to do so by telling her husband stories, the collection is amazing in language, style and sheer imagination.
Most stories take place in Baghdad, and instead of a war torn, news-exploited place, Baghdad became a place of magic and place of palaces and culture so deeply entrenched, that the entire world knows of them. I recommend this book to everyone who wants to go somewhere exotic and beautiful, even if it is just in thoughts. Great reading!
Appeals to all ages.......2007-07-23
My seventh grader is reading this book to my second grader. They are both loving it.
Adventure & more!.......2007-04-01
Arabian Nights - The classic Tales of Adventure, thrilling suspense, romance and more. These Indian, Arabian and Persian mix tales are ever enchanting tales and an interesting read. The school syllabus picks up the best of the best Arabian nights stories into the text lessons since many years, esp. Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, Sindbad the Sailor and Alibaba and the Forty Thieves. All my fav stories but the most adventurous is Sindbad the Sailor. Why, I remember Pip the Sailor and of coz, Popeye but than, the classics are the ever best of the best on my book shelf. Even Ali Baba takes you on a dreamy path to being rich and Aladdin reminds of the Genie who obeys orders.
The tales are just poetic and take kids to a world of imagination. However, I guess if religion is pushed aside by avoiding repeat 'allah', I guess this book will be a great pick by all. However, kids are sure to love reading these lovely stories. A nice pick.
You Won't Find Fairytales Any Better.......2006-11-17
Words cannot describe the fantastic quality of this collection of Arabic literature. But don't get the book just to read the tale of Ala al-Din (Aladdin) and his Wonderful Lamp, because the other tales included surpass this merely moderate one by far - although it's interesting to find out that a black midget is Aladdin's primary nemesis (upon who Disney's Jafar is based, apparently).
The stories touch on such a wide variety of unusual topics: a man's visit to the kingdom of mermaids, a dead beggar getting tripped over again and again, a guy claiming to have several volcanoes in a portable bag, a Sultan's escape from a buffalo-faced woman in the presence of a group of pink ladies, and the marriage of a prince to a turtle. Insane stuff.
My favorite story is The Everlasting Shoes by far. It's quite possibly the funniest thing I've ever read. It's about an old miser who's so cheap he never buys new shoes. He just patches up the pair he has whenever they get holes. The addition of so many patches naturally make his shoes bigger and bigger. Eventually the shoes become ridiculously huge and heavy and smelly, and they make a lot of noise as the miser walks. The scene of the shoes being thrown into the river and getting caught in the millwork is well worth the price of the entire book.
There's a story in here that looks VERY much like a mid-east version of Cinderella. Quite interesting.
I am unable to tell how many liberties the author has taken in translating the tales, but they're definitely fun to read. There are tons of ancient day metaphors and funny insults like, "You flea on a cockroach's kneecap!" and "Son of a plank! Did you steal your brains from a table?" I really liked reading the misfortunes of the protagonist in the Keys of Destiny stories, and the nagging wives that appear sporadically are pretty darn funny.
The things I didn't like about this book were very few. Only its frequent mentioning of Allah and the puzzling weakness of its 998th and 999th stories about a flying toy horse.
I would recommend the Arabian Knights to anybody over the age of fifteen; probably because I was so surprised at the large amount of enjoyable humor.
WOW.......2004-06-21
Absolutely the best work of fiction EVER. Indeed, I too wish, that there were 1001 stories or even 1.000.001 ones inside this lovely book but all good things must come to an end.
Anyways, if you wander, why 1001 nights? - here's the answer.
Two brothers, both Kings, have both been victims of cheating wives. They both kill them and their lovers but later on, one of the brothers, King Shahryar can't stand the loneliness in the dark so he comes to a decision to marry a new wife fetched by his Counsellor, every night then kill her next day after because he believes that "All women are fickles" and that "None of them love their husbands for more then one day"...so he marries a new wife each night until the streets began to get emptied. Then, when 'no other girl' is left, Shahrazad, the eldest girl of the King's Counsellor, becomes his 1001-st wife. Unlike other wives, Shahrzad survives because...
Do not say you read books if you didn't read this one!
Highly recommended
Customer Reviews:
A well of information, but none too deep........2007-09-16
Agreed, this is a top notch book if you want to know what "the "Bedu" life was like sixty years ago in what is now Saudi Arabia. In that respect, I'm in complete concurrence with the other glowing reviews. But, as another reviewer has brought up, there's something missing here: Thesiger. Having read this book, I feel I know much more about camels, Bedu culture and desert travel. I even feel I know and like Thesiger's Bedu companions very well. But Thesiger himself? A bit of a mystery.
Yes, Thesiger mentions his dislike of machines and modern society. But, I don't really get a "feel" for what he's all about here. I suppose his perspective as presented here could best be denominated Stoic (although another reviewer speculates masochism may play a part). But, even then, Thesiger is no Marcus Aurelius, and any meditations or introspection are scant as the desert brush. -Can any reader imagine Thesiger meditating like M.A. on such questions as, "What is life but a warfare and a stranger's sojourn?" - Reflections, or at least the disclosing of them, are simply not his gulp of brackish well water.
Others are obviously quite content with a narrator about whose inner life they know next to nothing. But I was left after reading this book with a listless, arid feeling, with any sense of "INNER cosmography" (to borrow from Thoreau) remaining unmapped.
Not for me.......2007-09-15
I give it 3 stars for being interesting, for being exotic enough to draw me in for 100 pages, and for the author's clear descriptive writing. It would get more stars if it had developed any kind of a plot in those 100 pages -- I did not go further.
I did, though, learn how to make a camel lower it's milk. That little lesson alone was worth the time (I won't be doing THAT any time soon... I won't say how this feat is accomplished, but let me say that a Bedu who does this must want that milk badly).
Really, it is like a travelog in that it takes you along with him on desert journeys. Not too much adventure here, though, in the first 100 pp.
Times forgotten.......2007-09-07
Great story. They write movies about people like this and still don't do them justice. The book certainly gives us the sense of what it would be like to walk in the shoes of an adventurer traveling through the sands of the Middle East. On the backs of camels no less. Wow!
Couldn't Put it Down.......2007-07-29
This is simply a wonderful book. I actually found myself wishing I could go back in time and travel with Thesiger. This really is one of those books you will not want to put down. It is a great adventure and gives great insight to a time and way of life that is gone forever. Thesiger is definitely one of the great adventurer-travelers of all time. Thankfully, he had the writing skills to put it all down on paper.
Arabian Sands.......2007-01-18
A rare look at the empty qaurter of Arabia by a seasoned adventurer who obviously loved his subject both place and people. His assesment of Arab honor and harsh Bedu life give great insight on the Mideast today. One becomes attracted to the silence and vastness of the unknown deserts of the world.
Customer Reviews:
A rich and sensual read.......2007-10-03
As a poetry lover, it is a shame that I have only recently discovered Nizar Kabbani, one of the Arabic world's best-known contemporary poets. His _Arabian Love Poems_ are vivid, powerful, intense with beautiful imagery and a poignant tone. For readers of Arabic, it is also dual language. In any case, a marvelous collection. Highly recommended.
Good love poems.......2007-04-05
This book makes a real contribution to understanding Arab culture through its rich poetry. I recommend it to the general reader who does not have a background in poetry or literature but just wants a good read.
Arabian love poems.......2006-08-11
Mr. Qabani is very famous in the arab culture. His reputation comes from the sensitive and sentimental poems he writes about love and women. Unfortunately, the collection of poems in this item did not represent well the work he is famous for.
Love is Beautiful!.......2005-07-15
If you are in love read the poems in this book. The words are musical, the emotions are strong, and the fire is really hot!
* Sensual and Passionate Poems *.......2004-11-09
These poems are very sensual, very passionate and very sexy. These are beautiful love poems. Recite them to a woman and see what happens...! Read the poems to someone special.
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