Jurji Zaidan and the Foundations of Arab Nationalism: Modern Intellectual And Political History of the Middle East

Jurji Zaidan was one of the leading thinkers of the Arab renaissance.

Through his historical novels, his widely read journal, al-Hilal, which is still

published today, and his scholarly works, he forged a new cultural Arab

identity. In this book, Philipp shows how Zaidan popularized the idea of

society that was based on science and reason, and invoked its accessibility

to all who aspired to progress and modernity.

In the first section, Philipp traces the arc of Zaidan's career, placing his

writings within the political and cultural contexts of the day and analyzing

his impact on the emerging Arab nationalist movement. The second part

consists of a wide selection of Zaidan's articles and book excerpts translated

into English. These pieces cover such fields as religion and science, society

and ethics, and nationalism. With the addition of a comprehensive bibliography,

this volume will be recognized as the authoritative source on Zaidan,

as well as an essential contribution to the study of Arabic cultural history.