Table of Contents

Introduction
1: Haman in the Qur'an
2: Esther in Islamic Historical Sources
3: The Samaritan Esther
4: The Persian Esther 'Midrash'
5: Esther and Ancient Persian Storytelling
6: Bougaios: The Islamic Evidence
7: Why Did Mordecai Refuse to Bow?
Conclusions
Appendix: An Arab feminist on Esther
Bibliography

About the Author

Adam J. Silverstein is Associate Professor of Middle Eastern History at Bar Ilan University. He held a British Academy post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Cambridge, before taking up lectureships in Near and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford, where he was also a Fellow of Queen's College. Subsequently, Professor Silverstein was Reader in Abrahamic Religions at King's College London. His publications include The Oxford Handbook of the
Abrahamic Religions (2015) and Islamic History: A Very Short Introduction (2010). He is also the series editor for The Oxford Studies in the Abrahamic Religions with Guy G. Stroumsa.

Reviews

THE Megillot is without a doubt a hot topic in biblical studies at the moment
*Sorrel Shamel-Wood, The Journal of Theological Studies*

Silverstein has compiled an exceptionally significant study of Esther's reception from Muslim sources or from those living in Muslim lands. He has proven that studying these sources provide insights about how Esther was understood not only by Muslims, but also by Jews who were living among them...This book is pioneering in its field and essential to any serious scholar of Esther or even general readership, who are interested to know the evolution of literature in the Near East.
*Abdulla Galadari, Khalifa University of Science & Technology, Studies in Religion*

In this fascinating study, S. makes a compelling case for the cross-fertilization of ideas between the Muslim, Jewish, and Samaritan communities in Islamic lands. Highly recommended.
*Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament*

[the chapters] are all solid examples of careful literary-historical, philological scholarship. One might take issue with one or another point, but the collection represents an excellent contribution to the increasingly popular and important scholarship on biblical reception literatures, and one that ventures significantly into the important reception traditions of the Muslim world.
*Reuven Firestone, Medieval Encounters*