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.