Table of Contents

In Search of Islam's Past; The Study of Islam; The Decolonisation of History; On Writing the Modern History of the Middle East; On Nationalism and Revolution; The Use by Muslim Historians of Non-Muslim Sources; Palestine - On the History and Geography of a Name; The Pro-Islamic Jews; An Ode Against the Jews; The Mongols, The Turks, and the Muslim Polity; The Ottoman Empire and its Aftermath; Corsairs in Iceland; Islam and the Outside World; Islam and Europe; Crows of the Arabs (a group of Black Arabic poets); Heresy in Islam; Islamic concepts of Revolution; Islam and Development; The Idea of Freedom in Modern Islamic Political Thought; Russia and the Middle East; the Achievement of Sadat; The Significance of Khomeini; The Revolt of Islamic Fundamentalism; Behind the Rushdie Affair; The Middle East Crisis in Historical Perspective.

Reviews

Lewis (Near Eastern studies, Emeritus, Princeton Univ.) is noted for his many valuable historical works on the Middle East. This revised and updated collection of historical essays (Alcove, 1973) adds commentary on more recent events such as Anwar Sadat's assassination, the Salman Rushdie controversy, Khomeini's rise to power, and the surprising support of Sadam Hussein by some Arab groups. Nineteen of the original 21 essays have been reworked and combined with 13 additional historical/historiographical essays focused on contemporary events. Lewis's lucid style brings a fresh perspective and understanding to scholar and casual reader alike. Highly recommended.-- Paula I. Nielson, Loyola Marymount Univ. Lib., Los Angeles