The Theocrat - A Modern Arabic Novel from Morocco (Paperback)

"The Theocrat" takes as its subject one of Arab and Islamic history's most perplexing figures, al-Hakim bi-Amr Illah ('the ruler by order of God'), the Fatimid caliph who ruled Egypt during the tenth century and whose career was a direct reflection of both the tensions within the Islamic dominions as a whole and of the conflicts within his own mind. In this remarkable novel, Bensalem Himmich explores these tensions and conflicts and their disastrous consequences on an individual ruler and on his people. Himmich does not spare his readers the full horror and tragedy of al-Hakim's reign, but in employing a variety of textual styles-including quotations from some of the best-known medieval Arab historians; vivid historical narratives; a series of extraordinary decrees issued by the caliph; and, most remarkably, the inspirational utterances of al-Hakim during his ecstatic visions, recorded by his devotees and subsequently a basis for the foundation of the Druze community-he succeeds brilliantly in painting a portrait of a character whose sheer unpredictability throws into relief the qualities of those who find themselves forced to cajole, confront, or oppose him.

General

Imprint:	The American University In Cairo Press
Country of origin:	Egypt
Release date:	November 2009
First published:	November 2009
Authors:	Bensalem Himmich
Translators:	Roger Allen
Dimensions:	200 x 125 x 18mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Unsewn / adhesive bound
Pages:	224
ISBN-13:	978-977-416-251-0
Categories:	Books > Fiction > General & literary fiction > Modern fiction
LSN:	977-416-251-X
Barcode:	9789774162510

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!