Description: Written by one of the most prolific scholars of the early Abbasid era, this volume is a spirited defense of Arab identity, its merits, values, and origins at a time of political unrest and fragmentation.
Brief description: Sarah Bowen Savant is Professor at The Aga Khan University, London, and the author of The New Muslims of Post-Conquest Iran.
Review Quotes: "Ibn Qutayba's extraordinary erudition and literary skill are now on view in the LAL Arabic edition and translation at hand, The Excellence of the Arabs . . . The English translation is a page-turner. The Arabic is difficult, but the translators' command is apparent in how they avoid the complex syntax, verbosity, and numerous repetitions that are characteristic of Classical Arabic. The judiciousness of the series' decision to opt for English felicity over a more literal English rendering of the Arabic provides the reader with a genuine grasp of what Ibn Qutayba is really saying. All involved are to be congratulated!"-- "Journal of the American Oriental Society"