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An Imam in Paris: Al-Tahtawi's Visit to France Annotated Edition
Author(s): Rifa'a Al-Tahtawi (Author), Daniel L. Newman (Translator)
- Publisher: Saqi Books
- Publication Date: 1 Nov. 2003
- Edition: Annotated
- Language: English
- Print length: 405 pages
- ISBN-10: 0863563465
- ISBN-13: 9780863563461
Book Description
In the 1820s, Rifa’a al-Tahtawi, a young Muslim cleric, was a leading member of the first Egyptian educational mission to Paris, where he remained for five years, compiling his observations of European culture for the benefit of his countrymen. His account, “Takhlis al-Ibriz fi Talkhis Bariz”, is one of the earliest records of the Muslim encounter with Enlightenment-era European ideas. Al-Tahtawi’s book helped introduce ideas of modernity to his native land. In addition to its historical and literary value, al-Tahtawi’s work offers invaluable insight into early conceptions of Europe and the ‘Other’. Its observations are as vibrant and palpable today as they were over 150 years ago, informative and often acute, to very humorous effect. This annotated translation is the first in English of this classic book. It is introduced and carefully annotated by a scholar fluent in the life, times and milieu of its narrator.
Editorial Reviews
Review
‘An Imam in Paris lets us share the responses of a highly intelligent scholar … a first-class introduction … remarkable.’ TLS ‘… a touchstone for thinking about the tangled relations between Islam and modernity … the most amazing and entertaining curiosity.’ Matthew J. Reisz, Jewish Quarterly ‘[A] fine translation … extensively and meticulously notated.’ The International History Review
About the Author
Daniel L. Newman holds a PhD in Arabic literature and language from the University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies). His research focuses on Arabic travel, geographical literature, instrumental phonetics and Arabic dialectology. He is currently senior lecturer at the Haute Ecole de Bruxelles.
